Tram chiefs call in engineers to probe Leith Walk damage

Published on Saturday 22 March 2008 09:35

TRAM firm TIE has hired engineers to investigate claims that work for the £498 million scheme has caused structural problems in a building on Leith Walk.

The Purusha hairdressers on the section of Leith Walk between Balfour Street and the Foot of the Walk has reportedly suffered since utility diversion work started outside the salon in January.

This is said to include a crack along the floor of the salon, cracked tiles, broken windows and shop signs falling off.

Owners of the flats above the hairdressers are also understood to have contacted TIE with reports of structural problems.

And TIE today confirmed it had appointed an independent structural engineer to survey the building, with the matter now in the hands of the council-owned firm's insurers. Local businessmen and politicians today called on TIE to try to resolve the structural issue as soon as possible.

Gordon Burgess, owner of the Bed Shop opposite the building, said: "The work across the road started normally enough but there has not been much activity at all in recent weeks.

"From speaking to some of the workmen, they are saying they have been digging down and the ground which the road and building is on is just not stable. Whatever the reason, I just want them to fix it as soon as possible because we are all suffering.

"This section has to be one of the worst along Leith Walk, people can't get parked and are just not stopping as they go past."

Work on the section of Leith Walk between Balfour Street and the Foot of the Walk is expected to last at least another 17 weeks.

Lothians SNP MSP Shirley-Anne Somerville said she has requested a meeting with TIE to discuss the structural issues and wider problems on Leith Walk.

She said: "Leith Walk is littered with large holes which have been dug up sometime ago and just left.

"The longer that goes on the bigger the impact on local businesses in particular.

"I will be asking TIE to review the way the work is being timetabled.

"This project shouldn't be run for the convenience of TIE but for the people who are being directly affected by it. I recently did a survey of the concerns of small businesses in the area, and trams was the number one issue."

Work on Leith Walk began in August last year and has involved a series of lane and junction closures.

The next major milestone in Leith will be the temporary closures on Constitution Street which get under way at the end of the month.

A spokesman for TIE said: "Prior to starting any works, TIE appointed independent surveyors to carry out external dilapidation surveys on all properties along the line of the route.

"There is one building on Leith Walk which consists of a mixture of residential flats and ground floor shop for which TIE appointed an independent structural engineer to survey.

"At present TIE, through its insurers, is responding to a number of enquiries from the occupiers of this building.

"Our survey for this building is now with our insurers and we have no further comment to make."

www.tramsforedinburgh.com