FINALISED plans for protecting Jedburgh from flooding will be presented to members of Scottish Borders Council today.

Since the devastating deluge of August, 2012, which left dozens of homes and businesses knee-deep in water, experts have been considering up to 20 different options for better defences.

Although more immediate Phase 1 works were completed at the start of this year - including additional screens at the Skipprunning Burn and flow outlets at Duck Row - and smaller Phase 1A improvements around the town centre will take place over the coming months, the final full Flood Protection Scheme requires statutory approval.

And the outline design will be presented at the local authority meeting this week.

Design team leader David Murphy said: “Phase 2 is being taken forward under a formal Flood Protection Scheme due to the fact that there will be a number of affected landowners and the work is of a more complex nature.

“This provides an opportunity for the public to review and approve the proposals before they are confirmed.

“This also has the advantage of simplifying promotion of the scheme as planning consent is part of the process and not a parallel process.” The Skiprunning Burn, which flows through a culvert beneath the town centre, has a long history of flooding.

Since 1984 there have been four occasions when it has overflowed and deluged houses and shops.

Engineers believe that erosion protection upstream at Larkhall Farm, new debris traps at Wildcat Cleuch, the introduction of two-staged trash screens at Burn Wynd and both improvements and repairs to the town culvert will prevent further incidents.

David Green, flood and coastal management team leader, stated: “The scheme will provide reduced flood risk to approximately 50 properties, the potential for serious harm to individuals will be reduced, Jedburgh town centre will become a safer and more attractive place, and the council will have greater protection against the significant costs that a major flood event on the Skiprunning Burn causes.” A public exhibition was held in Jedburgh Town Hall in August to highlight the proposals.

If the scheme is given the green light by councillors this week it will go out for further consultation before being brought back for a final decision next February.