IT is only one month since the £31.4million Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme officially began but already the advanced works are significantly progressing.

Trial hole and investigation work at the Bridge Street Footbridge - known locally as the Bannerfield Footbridge - is ahead of schedule and following communications with local businesses, the crossing will no longer be closed permanently. It is initially intended to reopen the footbridge every day outwith working hours, which are Monday to Friday from 8am to 5pm, with a fence corridor providing safe access to the bridge on both sides. It is hoped that the crossing can be open on most days but the Scheme must retain the right to close the bridge in the event that any works adjacent to it compromise either the safety of the public walking over the bridge or the Scheme’s construction workers.

The work by the project team at the Bridge Street Footbridge has included clearing vegetation and determining the exact location of the underground services that converge on either bank and cross the river on the existing footbridge.

These services include water mains, sewerage pipes, gas pipes, power cables and BT lines including a fibre optic cable.

The Scheme’s Project Manager, Conor Price, said: “It has been determined that these services are, broadly speaking, in accordance with what had been expected and more-or-less in the correct locations.

“Furthermore, the dry weather and low river levels mean that the Scheme is this week preparing to lay new pipes across the river just downstream of the bridge.

“This will relocate the key services off the bridge and under the river and thus make the replacement of the footbridge a much less difficult operation when it takes place next year. It will, more importantly, secure the continuity of essential utility services to households throughout the ongoing works. “The river crossing is the first major works activity of the Scheme but has been dependant on low river levels. Thankfully the current dry summer has ensured that this activity is now on the verge of being completed ahead of programme and under budget.” Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council (SBC) Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, said: “I welcome the news that the footbridge will be open more often.

“While this project is vital for Selkirk and will protect almost 600 businesses and homes, Bridge Street Footbridge is an important connection between Bannerfield and the rest of Selkirk.

“While it is inevitable that there will be disruption for residents and businesses with a £31.4m infrastructure project, there should be spin-off benefits, such as trade from workers on the scheme.

“The Council will continue to work with the local community as the Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme progresses.” In addition, the Council plans to maintain an art feature at one end of the Bannerfield Footbridge.

Mr Price added: “When the main Scheme works take place next year, the area where the footprints are located will have to be excavated.

“To ensure that the Souter’s Footprints, a unique piece of Selkirk’s cultural heritage, is not lost the Scheme will be taking a mould of the feature so that if it cannot be cut-up and saved, then it can be re-created once the Scheme is complete.

“Furthermore, we are currently undertaking the post-Scheme landscape detail design and once this is complete the project team intends to engage with the community. Part of these discussions will be around the placement of the Souter’s Footprints within the context of a new landscape, which will be shaped by the new flood defences and replacement footbridge.” Selkirk Flood Protection Scheme will remove 595 properties in the Bannerfield, Philiphaugh and Riverside areas of the town from the national flood risk register. It will do so by protecting against the effects of flooding from the Ettrick and Yarrow waters and Long Philip and Shaw burns.