Trams and harbour 'vital' to growing city economy

Published on Saturday 19 February 2011 07:07

COMPLETING the city's stalled tram project and developing Leith Harbour into an international transport hub are among the crucial challenges which must be overcome to ensure growth in Edinburgh's economy, the local Chamber of Commerce urged today.

Launching its "manifesto" ahead of May's Holyrood elections, the business body urged the Scottish Government to support the completion of phase one of the Edinburgh tram project, stating: "It is not in Scotland's interests to have a major investment incomplete in the Capital's infrastructure."

The chamber also argue that the development of Leith Harbour into a major transport hub would bring huge benefits to a range of industries.

Along with increased tourism from becoming a port of call for cruise liners and increased freight traffic, Edinburgh, already home to Pelamis Wave Energy and Aquamarine Power, could become a world leader in new technologies.

The new Leith Harbour would be the gateway to this, the chambers argued.

Ron Hewitt, chief executive of Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "50 million of improvements to Leith Harbour would create the opportunity for Edinburgh to become a hub of global significance.

"Leith Harbour is absolutely crucial to taking forward the renewable energy revolution.

"The harbour makes it possible to attract firms like Mitsubishi, who already want to create a new factory in Edinburgh, and a cluster of suppliers for the major offshore wind investments which are coming."

He added: "Edinburgh is very rich in the supporting areas, such as land agents, lawyers and accountants, who are all part of making this work. The Green Investment Bank would be the completion of the cake.

"Edinburgh offers the perfect mix to be a world leader in the technologies, offering a great city to live in, world-class research facilities, a highly skilled workforce."

The chamber also argued that Waverley and Haymarket stations "urgently" need improvement to remain transport hubs. Controversy has so far surrounded the new plans to refurbish Haymarket station.

"It is vital that Edinburgh City Council is enabled to deliver at Haymarket a high-quality ambience worthy of what will be the main city centre interchange," the manifesto states.

Aside from transport, the chamber has also stated that Edinburgh's public realm "urgently needs a drastic uplift" to remain a world-class capital and continue to attract tourists and business to the city.

It argues that cracked pavements and roads stand in the way of progress. "The removal of street clutter, the improvement of pavement surfaces and the massive refurbishment of Scotland's roads are not nice-to-haves, they are essential to the running of a world-class economy," business leaders argue.

The Chamber of Commerce also urged the Scottish Government to invest more in Marketing Edinburgh, which was established from an alliance set up by the council, the city's business tourism unit and film location agency to promote the city.

Despite job losses in the financial services sector, it said recent arrivals in the city, such as Tesco and Virgin financial services, indicate that recovery is taking place and that Edinburgh is still a sought-after destination for this sector.