Loanhead and District Community Council has been told the estimated bill to solve the flooding issue was now £2.6 million.

Last November, Scottish Water admitted the cost of repairing the three year problem had risen from £100,000 to £1.6m.

To repair the sewer, which has been pouring its contents across the walkway beneath the town centre, Scottish Water proposes to construct a new pipe, parallel to the existing pipe beneath the walkway, and creating a storm water tank to store excess water during periods of heavy rainfall.

Scottish Water regional community manager Bill Elliot and waste water asset planner Steven Greenhill assured the community council that the work would be carried out.

Planning

Mr Greenhill said that the project had been given funding approval and the next task was to identify an area of land suitable for the tank.

"I have had contact from Midlothian Council's estate planning to assist us with that.

"I am going to provide them with details and dimensions of this area of land and types of access requirements for maintenance and operation. they will assist me in finding a suitable location," said Mr Greenhill.

"In terms of actual design work and engineering work we are looking at approximately three months of work to develop the design.

"A limiting factor in terms of time is planning and approval.

Outwith

"We have to identify the land, secure the land, serve out the time for relevant notices which maybe required to be served.

"Sometimes the timescales are outwith our control."

He added that the entire project could take up to a year to complete but he would return to the community council with more details once they were known.

When questioned about the budget, Mr Greenhill said: "We never had a budget as such.

"This project has been expanding. At the moment the potential budget as total costs are inevitably rising is a £2.6m option."

Help

Chairman Pat Kenny commented: "I am sure the council will give you all the support you need.

"It is time you were speaking to the councillors for this area not just the council and they will give you any help they can to get you available land, which may save time."