Anger as tram crews return two years on to move cables

TRADERS in the West End have reacted angrily after tram bosses announced plans to return to Shandwick Place to carry out work that should have been completed two years ago.

Traffic diversions will be brought in on the street from Saturday as tram workers prepare to carry out more utility diversions.

The street was closed for much of 2008, when contractors carried out work to move underground pipes and cables.

Shandwick Place had been expected to close fully for up to 18 months to allow for tracks to be laid, but the work has been held up due to the ongoing dispute with construction firm Bilfinger Berger.

Instead, work to move underground cables will take place until mid-April, with only a single lane of city-bound traffic maintained.

Michael Apter, chairman of the West End Association and director of the Paper Tiger store, said: "A lot of businesses here are very angry about this, as through the process this is the sort of flip-flop work that we did not want.

"We all appreciate that the work needs to be done, but it would be far better if it could be done in one go, instead of everything in this area being repeatedly disturbed and changed around as roads are closed, opened and closed again.

"The combined effect of this and the recession will no doubt see more local businesses close, and from my own point of view it will impact on Mother's Day and school holidays.

"No-one here is happy about this."

The work will mean west-bound buses will be diverted via Lothian Road and the West Approach Road, with bus stops moved to the West Approach Road.

Access to Manor Place will be maintained via Drumsheugh Gardens and Melville Street, and a pedestrian crossing will be maintained near the Manor Place junction.

Torphichen Street and Palmerston Place will both reopen to traffic at their junctions with West Maitland Street.

It was discovered last year that further utility diversion work would need to be carried out in the area.

Businesses had been told that the work to move the cables would be carried out at the same time as work to lay the tram tracks.

But TIE has now said it needs to push ahead with the utility diversion immediately. It is understood that it is hopeful that an agreement with Bilfinger Berger over the tram-laying work could be reached by mid-April, meaning the work will all go ahead over one set period.

Mandy Haeburn-Little, director of communications at TIE, said: "The utility diversion work on Shandwick Place has been organised in stages, in order to offer greater access while work is ongoing. Local businesses and residents have been informed of this and received notification of these works. We would like to thank everyone for their patience and understanding."

Town crier rings bell for Ryan's Bar

FOR many of the city's firms, getting the word out during the disruption caused by the tram works has been a tall order.

But one business is hoping to ring the changes with its newest member of staff – town crier Ben Wightman.

Ryan's Bar, in the West End, has employed Ben, complete with red coat and tricorn hat, to help boost flagging lunchtime trade.

Reaching the bar – which sits amid what staff describe as an "ugly labyrinth" of roadworks – can involve crossing the road up to three times.

Now the eatery is hoping to win back diners with the help of its very own bell ringer and poster campaign.

Jason Borthwick, the bar's general manager, said the business had suffered "substantial losses" due to the effects of the roadworks, forcing it to lay off staff.

He said: "The roadworks have been a nightmare for the effect they have had on lunchtime trade. We're down on last year and it's definitely having a big impact."