THE 11 artists vying for the three commissions, each worth around £30,000, to mark the completion of Selkirk’s £31m flood protection scheme will present their proposals at a public exhibition later this month.

The two-day display of the proposed permanent installations will take place in the town’s Philiphaugh Community School on Monday and Tuesday, February 27 and 28.

“We received a total of 18 submissions encompassing a wide range of different ideas and, following a full review, we have selected 13 proposals from 11 artists and groups,” said Andrew Dinnett, the scheme’s design liaison manager.

“These artists have now received a grant of £750 to develop their proposals into full designs.

“Many of the artists are currently running workshops, visiting local community groups and running sessions at local schools to discuss their proposals and gather feedback.

“The purpose of the public exhibition is to give the artists a further opportunity to gather such feedback.

“Our intention is to award the three contracts in April so that construction of the installations can take place during the summer months and be unveiled in September.”

The flood scheme’s project board has set aside £105,000 and identified three sites for the installations – the new Long Philip Burn Park west of Bannerfield; the plaza area north of the new Bridge Street footbridge; and the riverside corridor between that footbridge and the Common Riding crossing point on the Ettrick Water.

“We’re confident the installations will create a sense of community ownership over the new flood defence infrastructure in places created or regenerated by the scheme,” said Mr Dinnett.

He also revealed that the first day of the exhibition – February 27 - will coincide with the official opening of the flood protection scheme – eight years in the planning and two years in the construction.

The scheme, which will protect 600 properties from flooding, consists of 3.1km of embankments and 3.4km of walls, stretching from the confluence of Ettrick and Yarrow to the west of the Oregon Timber building at Dunsdalehaugh.

“We are still making the final arrangements for the official opening of the scheme and will provide further information regarding times etc in the next week or so,” said Mr Dinnett.