The £42m cost of holding back the tide in Musselburgh
Flood defences are being expanded to protect the town from the effects of climate change.
Planned flood defences in Musselburgh are set to be expanded to protect the town from the effects of climate change.
Extra measures will be set up along the coastline, rather than just along the banks of the River Esk.
It means the projected price tag has soared from £9m to £42m.
The Musselburgh Flood Protection plan aims to defend against a one-in-200-year flooding event.
Project manager Connor Price told East Lothian Council that walls and embankments would run from the town centre to the Firth of the Forth and around the coastline.
Three bridges will be replaced, a network of pumping stations will be set up and the capacity of nearby reservoirs increased.
The Scottish Government has pledged to meet 80 per cent of the costs of the total project.
Councillors backed the preferred scheme and agreed to spend £960,000 on preparation work.
Concerns were raised about the impact of the new barriers on residents who enjoy walking along the riverbank.
Mr Price told the meeting, "There will be trees that will have to come down and amenities which will have to be dug up but we aim to reinstate them as well as we can.
"We cannot say there will be no impact, you cannot make an omelette without breaking eggs."
The flood protection work is expected to start in 2022 and is due to be completed within five years.