Edinburgh trams: Signs say 'open for business' but who's going to see them?

Published on Friday 11 April 2008 10:20

BUSINESS leaders have slammed trams chiefs for putting up signs telling people they are still open – on a street that has been closed.

Firms in Constitution Street, Leith, claim trade has plummeted since major roadworks began to make way for the trams.

They say the "open for business" signs provided by trams firm TIE are inadequate because they are mainly on the closed-off street, rather than the approaches to it.

Graham Russell, chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses Edinburgh branch, said: "It is beyond belief that they have put these 'open for business' signs on the street itself.

"They are tiny, flimsy yellow things anyway – we need something a lot more substantial at either end of the street which screams out there are businesses down there.

"It is not as if these works are a surprise. Why couldn't we have something in place for the start of work at the end of last month?" Just one yellow 1ft square sign, declaring "Constitution Street – all shops open for business", is at the Foot of the Walk end of the street, while there are no signs at the Queen Charlotte Street entrance to it.

A number of white signs bearing a picture of a tram and the open for business message are dotted along the rest of the street. Sara Morgan (pictured above), manager of Carolyn Designer Florist, has spent the last ten days reassuring customers that her Constitution Street shop is still open for business. She said: "The sign is not really any help at all. We need a big banner at both ends of the street which tells people we are all still here. We have seen a real drop in business over the last ten days. The TIE people on the ground have been quite helpful but we are still getting people ringing up and asking if we are still open."

The city's open for business campaign to promote Edinburgh during the disruption caused by the tram-building work has an annual budget of 100,000 a year.

Among the initiatives being considered is "Month of Sundays", a programme of cultural events, food markets and other events to take place on Sundays.

Mike Connelly, stakeholder manager with TIE, said: "TIE is working hard with the businesses of Constitution Street to ensure the signage on the street meets their requirements.

"Clearly, some positions benefit some more than others and our frontline teams are striving to achieve the appropriate balance.

"TIE believes that it has to strike a balance in as much as the local businesses know their own business better than it does."

The Constitution Street phase of work got under way on March 31 and the street is being closed in sections to minimise inconvenience. Although it is expected to re-open later this year, the longer term the plan is for it to be only used by trams and buses.

Workers dig up human skull

TRAM workers on Constitution Street have found a skull and other human remains dating back at least 200 years.

The discovery was made next to South Leith Parish Church, which used to extend over what is now Constitution Street. It is thought the remains either came from an old grave or belong to someone who was buried just outside the church – a common practice for sailors at the time.

Tests on the remains are currently being carried out.

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