A flood risk map which warned thousands of homes and businesses in Musselburgh were in danger is to be reviewed after it failed to convince people.
A meeting of East Lothian Council was told the Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme, currently estimated to cost £42.5million, had produced a map showing areas of the town which would be at risk in a major event.
However officers asked councillors to approve a review of the modelling used after telling them the scheme was at risk because the results of the map were not "easy for some residents living in Musselburgh to accept".
The Musselburgh Flood Protection Scheme, which aims to introduce defences against a one-in-200-year risk of flooding in the town, was initially projected to cost £8.9million in 2016.
That cost has now spiralled and councillors were told that once a review of the map and further consultation had taken place the cost may again go up when a report comes back to members in October.
The most up to date risk map would state around 2,500 properties are at risk of the major flood event including the whole of the town's High Street and the Eskmills Business Park area; Musselburgh Racecourse; Fisherrow Harbour; significant parts of Loretto School and its grounds; the A199; the town’s two road bridges and all of its footbridges.
A preferred scheme plan brought forward in January based on the map involves creating four kilometres of walls and embankments along the River Esk and coastline as well as removing and replacing bridges.
An update on the development of the scheme brought to councillors today asked for approval to review the map as well as to formally include the sea wall in front of ash lagoons to the east of the town into the scheme.
Councillor Shona McIntosh, ward member for Musselburgh, added an amendment to recommendations in the report calling for more public consultation on the planned defences which would offer the public choices.
She said: "The thorniest issue at the heart of it is that if we want super protection we have to build defences really high but can we live with that?
"By really laying out different choices for people we will be better informed to make the difficult decisions. You can't just say to people 'here you are, we have built you a wall now would you like flowers or pigeon spikes on the top."
Councillors unanimously agreed to the amended recommendations with an update due to come back to council in October.
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