Two more years of tram trauma to come for embattled small traders

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:02

EDINBURGH'S troubled tram project was facing more problems today as it emerged traders on one of the city's main thoroughfares are set to suffer another two years of disruption.

Businesses on Leith Walk have been warned that the laying of tram tracks could go on past July 2011 – when the city's new transport system was supposed to be up and running.

Contractors will be asked to redraw the whole programme of work for the area after protests from business leaders over the scale of disruption they have already suffered – even though the move may add up to 10 million to the final trams bill.

A "doomsday" option of effectively closing off large sections of Leith Walk to allow the laying of tracks to be carried out in as little as eight months is thought to have been all but ruled out because of the level of disruption it would have brought.

The Leith Business Association, which has waged a long campaign over the impact of the tram works, last night said it was in favour of work continuing for another two years rather than run the risk of large numbers of shops going out of business.

The first tram tracks were due to be laid on Leith Walk at the beginning of this year. It is thought they will not now appear until September at the earliest.

Traders were asked at a briefing last week if they would be willing to put up with large sections of Leith Walk being closed completely to traffic or the thoroughfare being made one-way.

But the idea – backed by council officials and tram company Tie – is thought to have been shelved after receiving a "hostile" reaction, with several traders circulating protest petitions over the last few days.

Leith Business Association chairman Gordon Burgess said: "This work is already running way behind schedule and I'd be amazed if it is finished in two years' time. The option of trying to get the work finished quicker has been a non-starter for businesses because many of them just wouldn't have been able to get access at all."

One source at the city council said: "It was our preference that the work is finished as quickly as possible, as is happening with Princes Street, as it would clearly help keep the budget down.

"The problem is, Leith Walk is very different in nature and many businesses require regular on-street access. Unfortunately there is no easy solution to this headache, but the preference from businesses in the area seems to be for work to continue for another two years in the hope that the programme will be less disruptive."

Tie's board last night agreed to open talks with its main contractors over how to proceed with a two-year programme. An official price tag for the delay won't be known for several weeks.

Spokesman Gordon Christie said: "It is recognised that the business community of Leith Walk have already had a lengthy period of disruption and any future works must be carried out in such a manner that their needs are listened to and built in to how the work is carried out."

Firms face up to continued disruption

BUSINESSES in Leith Walk were last night resigning themselves to the fact they have only reached the half-way point of tramworks on the thoroughfare – if they are lucky.

Work to move underground pipes and cables started virtually two years ago, with the end of that still not in sight.

Tie, the city council's tram company, had pledged that the area would be the first to see evidence of tram tracks being laid, only to shelve the idea in favour of Princes Street after Leith's businesses argued for a break in works over the festive period.

Gordon Burgess, owner of the Bed Shop and chair of the Leith Business Association, said yesterday: "It's obvious the whole programme is running way behind schedule. We've been saying it for months and now Tie seems to be admitting that by saying that work can continue on Leith Walk for another two years.

"It's a bit curious to say the least that they're still looking at different options at this stage, when the first tram tracks were supposed to be going down here in January. But most businesses would rather have this for another two years than have entire sections of Leith Walk closed off to traffic. There's not a shadow of a doubt it would have driven large numbers out of business."

Bob Baird, owner of Harburn Hobbies, said: "I've heard that huge numbers of businesses had to shut in Sheffield when they introduced trams there because a whole street was virtually closed down.

"You just couldn't make a street like Leith Walk one-way for traffic, it has to remain open for people to access the shops."

Alan Myerthall, owner of The Pipe Shop, said: "The trams have been a total nightmare for businesses for two years now. People are just sick fed up with the whole thing, but everyone knows it's going to go on and on, and at the end of it, we're going to lose our parking spaces."