THREE rural roads in the Borders are to be improved after £700,000 of funding was secured from the Scottish Government.

The A701 at Tweedsmuir, the B6357 between Jedburgh and Newcastleton, and the C34 from Saughtree to Keilder will all be improved with the cash from the Strategic Timber Transport Fund.

All three roads are used regularly by timber wagons.

The funding, which totals £710, 705, will also go to a timber transport project officer who gives advice across the south of Scotland.

Around £6.7 million has been allocated right across Scotland through the fund.

Announcing the funding, Cabinet Secretary for the Rural Economy, Fergus Ewing, said;

“Scotland’s £1 billion forestry industry is going from strength to strength, producing millions of tonnes of high quality timber every year that will greatly benefit our rural economy.

“However, it is important that we do what we can to mitigate the impact on local communities of increased volumes of timber coming to market.

“That is the key purpose of the Timber Transport Fund and it is encouraging to know that local authorities and forest owners continue to bring forward project ideas that will facilitate the sustainable transport of timber and ultimately benefit local communities and the environment.”