Stone-clad Flood Wall Unveiled
News release from Scottish Borders Council: Wednesday 11 November 2020
Hawick Flood Protection Scheme Update
The Hawick Flood Protection Scheme has unveiled two different types of stone-clad flood walls for the town.
The design of the Scheme’s new flood defences, which are predominantly flood walls, was undertaken in partnership with statutory partners, key consultees, and the people of Hawick over many years.
Careful consideration of the heritage of the town has been pivotal in achieving the final look of the walls, with the buff and grey sandstone cladding designed to fit in with the surrounding environment. There is also a patterned concrete wall finish located through more industrial areas.
Townsfolk will start to see the buff sandstone cladding going up at the Common Haugh over the next few weeks.
In addition to the wall finishes, approximately 60 glass panels will be installed throughout the town to maintain views to the River Teviot.
These have been designed in partnership with the people of Hawick so that the glass panels are placed at key locations.
The Flood Scheme team is currently preparing a new interactive map which will be accessible via the Scheme’s website to provide additional information on the designs and finishes at each location.
It is intended that this will be available before the end of this year.
Councillor Gordon Edgar, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Infrastructure, Travel and Transport, said: “The unveiling of the new stone-clad sections of flood wall is a key milestone for the Hawick Flood Protection Scheme.
“A huge amount of effort has gone into the development of this design, with the years of design and preparation now allowing main contractors McLaughlin and Harvey to commence delivery of the first of the stone clad walls.
“The people of Hawick will soon be able to see the results and the new structures that will both protect them and their properties and become part of their landscape.”
Conor Price, Project Director for the Scheme, added: “The flood walls have been specifically designed for the areas where they will be located.
“We have endeavoured to listen to the people of Hawick and find solutions for local areas that would allow the new structures to blend into the existing heritage of Hawick.”
Notes to Editors
More information is available at www.hawickfloodscheme.com.
Images are available on SBC’s Flickr page.
The £88million Hawick Flood Protection Scheme will deliver protection from a 1 in 75 flood event to over 900 residential and commercial properties at risk along the River Teviot and Slitrig Water.
The Scheme now represents four significant projects in one:
The construction of the Flood Protection Scheme
The creation of a new Active Travel Network of traffic-free footpath and cycleways, stretching from Volunteer Park along the River Teviot to Weensland and the community recycling centre
An upgrade to the A7 trunk road, at Commercial Road, to make it fit for the levels of traffic it now carries
The installation of a new high capacity wastewater pumping station within the town’s wastewater treatment works to further alleviate the risk of sewage flooding during future flood events.
The Scheme now represents a major investment in the infrastructure of the town of Hawick. Contributions to the overall scheme costs include:
Scottish Government - £63m
Scottish Borders Council - £15m
SUSTRANS, the national walking and cycling charity, is contributing around £9m towards the cost of the new Active Travel Network along the River Teviot.
Scottish Water - £665,000 towards cost of new wastewater pumping station
Transport Scotland - £500,000 towards upgrade of Commercial Road
It is estimated that if these four projects were to be carried out independently of each other, the overall cost would be in the region of £101m. It means the Scheme represents significant value for money in terms of the public purse.