by Marie Sharp Local Democracy Reporter
A £42 million flood protection scheme for Musselburgh is moving forward, with a £280,000 contract to carry out ground investigation services awarded.
Ian Farmer Associates, which has offices in Glasgow as well as around the UK, has been named as the successful bidder for the work, which is part of the protection scheme.
A report to councillors said The Scottish Government would pay 80 per cent of the contract cost, with East Lothian Council paying the remaining 20 per cent.
The Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme, which aims to introduce defences against a one-in-200-year risk of flooding in the town, was initially expected to cost £8.9million when first put forward in 2016.
Earlier this year, project manager, Connor Price, told East Lothian Council that the cost had more than trebled as the threat to the town went from being mainly from the River Esk, which flows through it, to being more from the surrounding coastal boundary because of climate change.
The flood protection work is expected to start in 2022 after detailed consultations with the community regarding the design of the defence walls and barriers introduced.
It is due to be completed within five years.
Defence barriers will be a mix of walls of undecided height and heightened embankments, running from Tesco on the east bank of the River Esk out to the coast and along to join the existing sea wall there. On the west side of the town, the barrier will run from Brunstane Burn on its edge, along the coast and inland at the mouth of the Esk to Campie Road.
Bridges over the river in the town identified to be removed and replaced are Goosegreen Footbridge, Electric Bridge and Shorthope Street Footbridge.
The Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS) is a public service news agency : funded by the BBC, provided by the local news sector, and used by qualifying partners. Local Democracy Reporters cover top-tier local authorities and other public service organisations.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
