A decision on the controversial Whitesands flood prevention scheme in Dumfries is still several months away.
Councillors will be told today it could be the end of the year before they know the outcome of the public inquiry which finished in December.
The timing of the result will be determined by the workload facing the Government Reporter who oversaw the hearing.
Roads boss Steven Heriott will tell the economy, environment and infrastructure committee: “The most recent advice suggests that, based on current turnaround times, a decision may not be available until late in 2019.”
And he points out that, in the event of a “positive decision”, from the council’s point of view, it would be at least 2022 before the scheme, incorporating a bund and massive changes to car parking in the town, will be up and running.
More detailed design work and preliminary operations would have to be carried out that would roughly take a year to complete.
In his report Mr Heriott adds: “Construction activities would be phased and are expected to take a further 24 months.”
£61m damage bill for Whitesands in Dumfries questioned
Meanwhile the price tag on Langholm’s main flood prevention scheme has been put at £7.4 million with expected benefits to weigh in at £9.7 million.
And that should mean the work falls within the parameters that make it eligible for Scottish Government funding.
However, the review which produced the figures is still ongoing and final costs will be reported to the policy and resources committee.
Details of the scheme should be unveiled in around a year’s time.
At the same time councillors will be told folk living in Holmwood Drive are likely to have to wait a bit longer before the flooding problems they face from water running off the surrounding hills can be tackled.
Last chance bid to block Whitesands plans fails
A scheme involving a combination of drains and berms (raised banks) which would divert the run off into the Meikleholm Side water has been identified.
But it would involve costs snowballing from an initial estimate of £250,000 to as much as £375,00 to £400,000 which bursts the budget and is unlikely to be value for money.
So members are being asked to align the work with the Langholm flood protection scheme.
