Will the brand new £92 million flood scheme defend Hawick this winter?

The Hawick flood safety scheme is likely one of the largest ever accomplished in Scotland.

It was final reported to have price £92 million, which has seen a significant infrastructure funding within the Borders.

Work on the principle contract started in July 2020 and took roughly 5 years in complete.

Now it is able to face the primary actual take a look at of its skills because it prepares for the worst the Scottish winter can carry.

So how assured are locals and the folks behind it that it’ll pull off a scene not seen earlier than within the metropolis?

Joan Hamilton and her husband Ronnie have lived close to the city's rugby membership – close to the River Teviot – for greater than 40 years.

His dwelling has been affected recurrently – however the worst incident occurred 20 years in the past.

“There was a real flood in 2005, I mean the water was above our knees and it was really bad,” Joan stated.

“Initially it affected my husband's health and we had to stay out of the house for more than six months.

“We were put up in a hotel for the first week, and then we were allocated a small house in Burnfoot for the remaining six months.”

She stated she has bought used to residing with the hazard however for her husband it’s harder to take care of and the rescue could be very welcome.

“This has made a big difference to our lives,” he stated.

“We're not always worried about what's going to happen.

“It's been a big job but it's been worth it for us.”

Project Director Connor Price has spent the final 16 years engaged on his largest ever safety in Galashiels, Selkirk and Hawick.

He stated that though many different parts have been included within the undertaking, the initially stays the flood safety plan.

“It was conceived as a project to reduce the risk of flooding in the town of Howick, which has been prone to severe flooding for many centuries,” he stated.

“In the end, it's still a flood protection plan.”

However, he stated the chance so as to add different advantages by bettering pathways and energetic journey got here up throughout the “design journey”.

Mr Price stated there have been many difficulties in working in such a historic metropolis however two areas proved notably testing.

was on a sandbed Where a guesthouse fell into the river in 2020.

The second was on Commercial Road the place a piece of the trunk street wanted to get replaced and public utilities shifted which needed to be completed earlier than the principle work may start.

He stated that, from his perspective, the native folks have been “extremely patient”.

“People in the city understand the scale of the flood threat,” he stated.

“They wanted a flood protection plan. They knew it was needed for the future of the city.

“And from my perspective, they've been absolutely fantastic.”

He said he hoped the plan could give them peace of mind and save them “sleepless nights” if the river rises.

He said, “What I can tell you is that with the protection systems in place today, every flood ever recorded in Hawke would have been able to travel safely through those protection systems if those protections had been in place in the past.”

He knows they will face “robust tests” in the future and the council will need to “remain vigilant” to ensure they are managed, maintained and repaired so they are always ready for use.

The project has already received several awards for its engineering and construction, but the biggest ambition is to snatch scenes unseen in years past.

Stuart Marshall is a local councilor and chairman of the Hawick Flood Group.

“I think the mood in the community now is one of relief,” he said.

“I think for the first year since 2005, Hawick residents will be able to sleep comfortably in their beds without worrying about flooding.

“This is something that has plagued our city for many years.”

He stated folks had “every right” to query the fee however the funding meant everybody locally may really feel “much safer”.

The remaining value is predicted to be revealed quickly, however it’s probably that it may exceed £100 million.

He stated recollections of one of many worst incidents in October 2005 have been contemporary in his thoughts and seeing individuals who had misplaced your complete contents of their houses or companies.

“Seeing the sadness on their faces will stay with me forever,” he stated.

They too are ready for the primary huge take a look at of the scheme.

“I think there will be a certain amount of nervousness,” he admitted.

The flood group will stand nonetheless as they look forward to the primary “big water” to see how the security system behaves.

“When the season closes and river levels start to rise, all eyes will be on the Hawk,” he stated.