Work about to resume on Hawick’s £88m river defences after lockdown hold-up

Workers downed tools on Monday, March 23, as the country went into lockdown, but now preparations are under way to get the project back on track in compliance with industry guidelines.

Bosses at Scottish Borders Council last month announced that McLaughlin and Harvey had been appointed as main works contractor for the project, and the Northern Ireland-based civil engineering company is now preparing to set up compounds on site.

Further preparations have included the development of new safe systems of work to take account of social distancing requirements.

The project’s advanced works contractor, SBc Contracts, is also making final preparations to return to complete the public utility diversions and site preparation works they were carrying out prior to lockdown.

That work is now scheduled to be completed early next year.

One of the first tasks to be undertaken is the closure of Commercial Road, originally due to begin in March but now starting on the evening of Monday, June 29, and lasting about six months.

Hawick and Denholm councillor Stuart Marshall, chairman of Hawick Volunteer Flood Group, has welcomed the restart of work on the scheme, saying: “I am delighted that works on the flood scheme are going to be commencing in the coming days, and townsfolk, particularly those who have waited some 14 years or so for this day to come, will also be over the moon.

“The timetable for the scheme itself has been badly hampered by the Covid-19 outbreak, and whilst all of us fully understand that there have been much more immediate and serious issues to cope with recently, none the less it’s welcome news to see the main works contractor setting up its operational headquarters in Mansfield Road.

“With the scheme unfortunately delayed because of the virus, townsfolk will now have to wait a little bit longer before we have total flood protection, and I would like to reassure both townsfolk and business owners that Hawick Volunteer Flood Group will always be on standby to support them during the course of the construction works.”

Council chief executive Tracey Logan added: “The Hawick flood protection scheme’s project team has spent the last two months during lockdown carrying out detailed preparations for an eventual return to work.

“Everything has been planned with great care, and we are ready to put our plans into operation on the ground in the coming weeks.

“A vital part of those preparations has been to ensure the safety of members of the public and construction staff in these times of Covid-19.

“Every safe and appropriate measure will be put in place on site to ensure we meet the most stringent social distancing and personal hygiene standards.

“We would like to thank the people of Hawick for their ongoing patience and understanding during the works, including the Commercial Road closure.

“These works are essential for the delivery of flood protection to the town.”

The cost of the project is now being put at £88m, a figure dwarfing the £60m estimate suggested by the council’s chief executive Tracey Logan in February and exactly double the £44m quoted until then.

The Scottish Government will pick up the lion’s share of that tab – £63m – with £15m being chipped in by the council and £9m by cycling charity Sustrans, plus £665,000 from Scottish Water and £500,000 from Transport Scotland.