More tram misery as streets hit by 24-hour utility works

Published on Saturday 10 July 2010 10:30

RESIDENTS and businesses in streets which have been among the most heavily disrupted by the trams scheme will have to endure three months of 24-hour utility works.

The works, which begin this week and will run from Broughton Street to St Andrew Square, are the latest in a series of utility diversions that have pushed the cost of the project over budget and caused massive delays.

Contractors from trams firm TIE will begin digging up parts of the road around York Place on Wednesday to allow BT engineers to install internet cables, and will work in two 12-hour shifts throughout the summer.

It is thought to be the first time that tram workers will work through the night for such a period of time.

TIE has said by working flat out it will finish the diversions sooner, but local residents have reacted angrily to the prospect of disruption through the night.

Broughton Street has already been closed for several months recently, leading to loss of trade for businesses.

Mark Davidson, bar manager at Mathers on Broughton Street, said: "Obviously for the last few months the street has been dug up and re-dug up several times, then when Broughton Street was completely closed that did impact business.

"People weren't passing by as much and there was no one waiting at bus stops who might pop in for a quick pint.

"I think it'll be worse for residents because they'll have work going on all night every night for three months."

Residents and businesses in the area were only given one week's notice of the start of the work. Rodney Mathos, assistant manager of the Ballantrae Hotel on York Place, said that he is concerned the night work could disturb his guests, and hadn't heard about the plans before Saturday.

He said: "I think people in the area are really upset about this and it has affected the businesses around here.

"Also most of our rooms are on the front and if there's going to be the digging through the night that's going to affect us."

A spokesperson for Openreach, which is part of the BT Group, said: "Openreach will work in 24-hour shifts to ensure minimal disruption to the public."

Steven Bell, director of the tram project, said: I can assure you every effort will be made to minimise any disruption to residents and businesses."

Last month the News revealed that the cost of utility diversion work so far had been 62 million, compared with the original forecast of 48m.