Keen to encourage delivery of increased funding to support the haulage sector, Northwoods organised an evening information event at the Cheviot Hotel in Bellingham on September 1^st 2011. The event was aimed at all parties involved in the haulage sector, with a focus on Central Tyre Inflation, an innovative technology for which grant funding is available at up to 40%.

Eleven hauliers attended alongside representatives from Confor, the Forestry Commission, Forest Enterprise, UPM Tilhill, and Northumberland and Cumbria County Councils. Following introductory talks on the background to CTI, experiences in other parts of the country to date and the local council’s stance on the subject, a good discussion followed on the perceived benefits of the systems for timber hauliers and rural road networks. CTI installers Kingstown Commercials (Tireboss systems) and JD Engineering Ltd (Bigfoot systems) were present to offer technical advice. John Miller Limited kindly organised a lorry and drag trailer equipped with CTI to attend by way of a demonstration.

Following the event several businesses are proceeding with grant applications for CTI and wider haulage equipment, helping meet priorities of the scheme to deliver projects across all areas of the forestry and woodfuel sectors in the North East. A report of the event for the Timber Transport Forum can be found here. For more information contact Jill Platten.