Princes Street 'will only shut if tram line proceeds'

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 10:39

THE chief executive of the city council has conceded that repair work in Princes Street for the Edinburgh tram project will now not go ahead before the council commits to a first phase running to St Andrew Square, it was reported today.

Sue Bruce reportedly apologised after retailers were left in the dark over whether the first phase of the tram project would go as far as Princes Street - despite traffic being relocated to George Street and Queen Street from July until April for repair works.

Earlier this week, the council performed a U-turn when it recommended pressing ahead with a shutdown of the area for virtually all of next year to ensure work to lay tracks is completed as quickly as possible.

It was also reported that large crowds could be banned from gathering on Princes Street during the Festival fireworks display amid health and safety concerns related to the tram works.

But a spokesman for the Edinburgh International Festival said: "We have been assured the plans are being drawn up with a view to minimise any impact."

Councillors will next week discuss a report which shows 440 million has so far been spent from the project's 545m budget.

Last night, the council's deputy leader, Steve Cardownie, reportedly said there was "no chance" of completing the troubled project within the budget.

"Additional money will have to be found to take the trams from Edinburgh Airport to St Andrew Square, but the council doesn't have that money in its back pocket," he said.

"One option will be prudential borrowing, but let's say we need another 150m - how many schools would that build? Councillors will have to weigh up the cost of taking the project forward or cancellation."