RESIDENTS of a Selkirk housing estate face a five-months detour to reach the town.

Flood defence contractor’s RJ McLeod this week announced that the Bannerfield footbridge will be removed between May and September.

The Glasgow-based firm won the main construction contract for the £31.4 million protection scheme in December.

And for the past two months they have been planning the two-year programme of works.

Scott Marr from RJ McLeod’s said: “We have been in the planning stage and we are now moving onto the ground works.

“The old footbridge will be taken down in May and the replacement new bridge won’t be in place until September. We are still working on the exact dates but Bannerfield will be without its footbridge for around five months.” As well as removing the old footbridge, the construction company will need to build new foundations in the Ettrick Water for its replacement.

The missing bridge will lead to detours of over a mile for many wanting to reach the other side of the river.

Selkirkshire councillor Vicky Davidson hopes additional bus services can be organised for schoolchildren and the elderly.

She said: “We need to provide some form of transport.

“I will see if additional buses - even a minibus - can be put on during the five months.” Mr Marr admitted that the construction phase, which will run until the end of 2016, will lead to many road closures.

But he promised to post regular updates through the Border Telegraph as well as a visitor information centre at the South Bridge Street depot.

He added: “We are working on the doorsteps of residents and businesses. There will be a level of disruption during the two years but we will do everything we can to minimise it.

“Our information centre is open during office hours and anyone with any questions is welcome to drop in.”