'Today's decision is a major and important milestone in the delivery of a flood protection scheme for Selkirk'
Published 19 Jan 2011 09:30
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LONG-AWAITED plans to build new flood defences in Selkirk to protect the town from another devastating flood could finally get underway next year.
Scottish Borders Council's Executive approved the proposed preferred design for the Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme (FPS) at its meeting in Newtown St Boswells this week.
The £18.8 million scheme will be unveiled at a public exhibition in May and final approval is hoped for in the autumn.
However, the local authority admitted the work may take many years to complete.
Conor Price, Flood Protection Project Manager at SBC, said: "I am delighted that we have received formal approval for our preferred design today. The Project Team has invested an enormous amount of time and effort in advancing the project to this stage.
"We are confident the people of Selkirk will approve of our efforts, however, we recognise that from here the key to concluding a design is to continue to discuss the proposals with the residents of Selkirk.
"We are committed to designing robust, modern flood defences that protect the town and we are striving to deliver a scheme that the people of Selkirk are proud of, that they consider theirs."
The Preferred Scheme was developed by Halcrow Group Ltd in partnership with SBC over the past 15 months The Scheme is considered to be the most desirable combination of flood protection measures that can be delivered for Selkirk.
The options were presented to the public at an exhibition in Victoria Hall in June 2010 and over 60 individual meetings were held with major stakeholders as part of the project's consultation process.
With formal approval of the Preferred Scheme now in place the Project Team will begin the Outline Design Stage and undertake further consultation with the community. The design will then be submitted for formal Flood Protection Scheme status under the new Flood Risk Management (Scotland) Act 2009 before the end of 2011.
The Outline Design Stage of the Project will see significant activity on the ground in Selkirk. A number of major surveys will be required, specifically a Ground Investigation Survey and a Topographic Survey along the line of the proposed measures.
A survey of the main existing structures which interface with the scheme is also essential. In particular, it is necessary to assess the existing pedestrian bridges over the Ettrick. In parallel with the work in Selkirk the Project Team will continue to develop the St Mary's Loch Option through the St Mary's Loch Working Group.
A second Public Exhibition will be held in Selkirk so that all developments can be presented to the public. This is currently programmed for May 2011.
Councillor Jim Fullarton, Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure and Chairman of the Flood Advisory Group at the council, said: "Today's decision is a major and important milestone in the delivery of a flood protection scheme for Selkirk.
"We are delighted with the progress to date and look forward to its completion in the next few years. I am only too aware of the power of the Ettrick Water and Long Philip Burn, and can recall the devastating flooding caused in 1977 when Selkirk Bridge was washed away, and the flooding at Bannerfield in 2003.
"This Scheme is essential in reducing the risk of these events occurring again. It will also protect the businesses of the Riverside Business Park."
This article appeared in Border Telegraph 19 Jan 11
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