A £28 million flood protection scheme for a Scots town has been given the green light, eight years after it was devastated by a severe deluge.
Scottish Borders Council has given the go-ahead for the plans for Hawick, Roxburghshire, to progress to the next stage, which includes undertaking a detailed survey and consultations and a public exhibition.
The work is designed to defend the town from a major flood event, protecting 915 residential and commercial properties by building six kilometres of flood wall and seven new flood gates.
Hawick was badly affected by severe flooding in 2005, with the Teviot Water bursting its banks causing hundreds of thousands of pounds worth of damage to businesses and homes.
The £27.9m scheme has been welcomed by local councillors.
Gordon Edgar, the executive member for roads and infrastructure, said: "I am pleased that the preferred flood protection scheme is now approved and that we can progress to the next stages."
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