Scottish Borders Council (SBC) has made £2.9m available in its budget over the next four years for the preparation and design of flood protection schemes.

In addition, £235,000 has been allocated in 2009/10 for the management and maintenance of watercourses and existing flood and coastal protection schemes.

Formal flood protection schemes are major engineering projects designed to cope with severe events in towns and villages prone to flooding.

The schemes will provide protection to the whole community and not just isolated parts.

These schemes are generally large and expensive, and the Council does not have sufficient funding to take forward all of them at once - but it has developed a workable programme to take forward this important work.

Preliminary assessment work is well advanced on a potential scheme for Galashiels and consultants will be appointed in the near future to take forward preparatory work in Selkirk and Hawick. Funding arrangements for these multi-million pound projects are unclear at present, but it is hoped that these schemes will qualify for substantial funding support from the Scottish Government.

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Whilst preparatory work on these bigger schemes is underway the Council continues to take small but useful steps to help to mitigate the risk of flooding across the region. These include taking forward improvements to surface water drainage in Newcastleton, provision of sediment management measures on the Long Philip Burn in Selkirk, and vegetation thinning, and possible removal of gravel banks in Hawick.

The Council has also taken a number of steps to support local people in protecting their own properties in the event of floods through a community resilience programme. The programme includes: working in partnership with SEPA to deliver a free telephone flood warning service for households and businesses in 26 communities across the Scottish Borders, a network of ‘self-help’ sandbag stores and support and assistance for community self-help groups.

Councillor Jim Fullarton, Executive Member for Roads and Infrastructure, said: "The Council continues to do everything in its power to raise more funds to fast-track the flood prevention schemes identified as necessary across the Borders.

"We are working hard to use the limited resources available to provide maximum benefit to the public."

(GK/JM)