The people of Hawick must get behind a £28million flood protection scheme that is expected to protect more than 900 properties in the town.
That is the message of provost Ron Smith, after his fellow councillors supported a move to take the project to the next stage.
The preferred scheme will now enter a 15-month design process costing £410,000, which it is hoped will lead to statutory approval under the new Flood Risk Management Scotland Act.
If that is achieved, the initiative will be eligible for a grant from the Scottish Government which is expected to total £22million, with the remaining £5.5million coming from Scottish Borders Council’s capital budget.
Hawick residents have been vocal in their views on the project so far, with the council pencilling into its schedule a possible public local inquiry, should there be opposition.
But Councillor Smith said: “It is essential we carry the people of Hawick in support of this.
“Hopefully they will recognise this is for the greater good of the town and these plans will bring comfort to many.
“I would hope townsfolk consider the report carefully and give their support.
“I hope there will be no objections and complaints going forward.”
Fellow Teri councillor Stuart Marshall added his backing to the initiative, which includes protection for the Bill McLaren Foundation’s proposals for a world rugby centre in the Volunteer Park area.
Mr Marshall added: “There is a long way still to go, but we can go forward with optimism that we can reach the winning post. The households affected in the floods of 2005 and 2009 will be delighted.”
And David Paterson said: “I know of households whose insurance has quadrupled because of flood risk so they will be delighted this is moving ahead.”
A total of 270 people attended a two-day public exhibition last July, and since then controversial proposals to remove the Cobble Cauld in the River Teviot and build a large storage reservoir have been discounted.
If successful, the £27.9million fund would be split between Volunteer Park, Hawick High and Sandbed (£4.59m), Common Haugh and Commercial Road (£4.68m), Teviot Road, Teviot Crescent and Laidlaw Terrace (£4.18m), Duke Street (£3.5m), Mansfield Road (£8.72m) and Weensland (£2.28m).