A FLOOD on the scale of that which hit Angus last month could not be handled in Tweeddale, a meeting has heard.

The chairman of the recently created Flood Group, Colin Kerr, spoke out at Tweeddale Area Partnership (TAP) on Tuesday evening.

Mr Kerr, of Walkerburn, said: “There is going to be a flood prevention scheme in Peebles but not in the next five years and there will be a big flood in that time.

“It is not just about money it is about conversations across the region.

“Plus, we should have bigger sandbag stores with 1,000 available at Peebles Fire Station.

“There should be digital warnings from the dams around the area when the water is rising.

“There are big concerns in Peebles, especially at Walkershaugh – let’s be proactive and not reactive.”

It was revealed that there are at least 600 sandbags stored at Innerleithen Fire Station and they are distributed at times of high flood risk.

Peebles Community Council chairman Peter Maudsley said: “We have just missed one bullet in the past month, the thing that concerns me is there are just 100 sandbags at Peebles Fire Station, which go nowhere in a flooding event.”

Mr Maudsley reiterated his calls, made at more than five other public meetings this year, for an increase in the numbers of sandbags available in Peebles.

Tweeddale East councillor Julie Pirone said: “There will be more sandbags coming.

“Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has the second best emergency planning in Scotland with extra staff recruited in the last year and paid voluntary staff on hand if needed.

“When a flood is imminent sandbags are moved by council staff and contractors.”

Mr Maudsley said: “We are nearly a year down the line since the last huge Peebles flood and the officers should not need telling that we need additional sandbags.

“The strategic siting of sandbags is very important.”

SBC officer Kenny Harrow said that there is about £45,000 in the TAP neighbourhood support fund and wondered if any of that could be earmarked for flood equipment.

Tweeddale East councillor Robin Tatler said: “A flood could happen at any time and we should put some of this money aside.”

Mr Maudsley said: “One thing that would be useful would be more walkie talkies as during the recent power outage the mobile tower was taken out and all mobiles went down.”