The flood risk management plans are aimed at protecting communities at the greatest risk of flooding in the region. Local proposals include three flood schemes and two flood studies.

From today, views can be made on the Tweed, Solway and Forth Estuary Local Flood Risk Management Plans, along with the SEPA draft Flood Risk Management Plan.

The consultation is open for until 30 October 2021 and responses will help shape the final plans. The various plans and consultation can be accessed through SEPA’s consultation hub.

As the lead authority for the Tweed Local Plan District, which covers the majority of the Borders, Scottish Borders Council has produced a draft Local Flood Risk Management Plan which sets out proposals on how flood risk will be managed, co-ordinated, funded and delivered between 2022 and 2028.

The council has also contributed to the Solway plan, which covers Newcastleton, and is published by Dumfries and Galloway Council, and the Forth Estuary plan, which includes the Berwickshire coast and is published by Falkirk Council.

Local proposals of note include flood schemes for Newcastleton, Whitlaw and Crowbyres, and Peebles. Flood studies for Jedburgh, focused on the Jed Water, and Bonchester Bridge have also been put forward.

Councillor Gordon Edgar, executive member for infrastructure, travel and transport, said: “This is an important consultation which will help inform the delivery of critical flood schemes and studies across the region.

“Scottish Borders Council has been very successful in developing flood protection scheme proposals and securing funding to take these forward, for example in Hawick, Selkirk, Galashiels and for the Skiprunning Burn in Jedburgh. Smaller scale works across the region have also protected homes and businesses from river and surface water flooding too.

“However, we still have communities which continue to be affected by flooding and we are committed to ensuring we do all we can to protect them as much as possible from future flood events.”

Whilst the consultation is mainly online, hard copies of the plans and the consultation questions can be provided on request. Consultation responses can also be submitted in writing to SEPA.