Trams work scaring shoppers off, say two-thirds of traders

Published on Friday 22 February 2008 09:23

THE latest results from an ongoing survey of traders on Leith Walk has shown two-thirds of businesses have seen a "significant decrease" in the number of customers since tram work started in August last year.

A total of 98 traders have now been surveyed by the Federation of Small Businesses, which is reporting that most have suffered some downturn in trade as a result of the tram works.

This mirrors the initial findings of the survey published last month, when 58 businesses had been sampled.

The latest FSB survey – which includes traders sampled between January 27 and February 14 – claims the average loss per business since the work started is now 24,376.

Graham Russell, chairman of the FSB Edinburgh branch, said: "The latest businesses continue to confirm that they are suffering increasing levels of financial hardship due to major reductions in their turnover, losing regular customers and, even more seriously, many of them are now laying off some of their staff or making them redundant."