Warning over capital’s tramworks ‘casualties’

BUSINESS leaders have warned that one of Edinburgh’s main shopping areas faces being crippled by extended tramworks and a refusal to give traders compensation for disruption.

Edinburgh’s Chamber of Commerce says it fears a string of “casualties” over the next 18 months unless they can recoup predicted losses due to the closure of Shandwick Place and West Maitland Street in the city’s West End.

Many of the city’s leading independent shops are based in the area, which has already faced widespread disruption from tramworks.

However, the chamber claims that rates assessors have refused to offer hardship relief to affected businesses – a move that would have given them a 20 per cent rates reduction.

Despite the city council setting aside some £545,000 to boost business affected by tramworks over the next year, there are fears that many businesses will not survive the closure of the main thoroughfares running through the West End, with work sites due to be extended at the end of March.

Graham Birse, director of policy at Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said it was wrong that traders were being denied automatic compensation, and will now have to hire lawyers and other consultants to prove that their business has been adversely affected.

He said some businesses would be left in a “precarious” position unless some form of compensation or rebate could be guaranteed.

He added: “Many businesses are reporting substantial downturns in footfall and turnover, and there are fears there will be casualties as a result.”

The city council is relying on a series of marketing and promotional initiatives to offset the impact of the tramworks in the West End, with £175,000 due to be spent in the area over the next few months.

Businesses want the council to ease parking restrictions in surrounding streets, or introduce a scheme which allows them to refund shoppers the cost of their parking charges.

Dave Anderson, director of city development at the council, said: “Our ‘open for business’ fund is being used to provide targeted support to businesses affected by tram construction work, and the investment has already made an important contribution to the local economy.”

City centre businesses will get some respite from 3 March when The Mound is reopened to taxis, buses, cycles and emergency vehicles.

Princes Street is expected to reopen to traffic by July.