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Edinburgh Trams - the view from the West End.

Businesses in the West End have remained broadly supportive of the Edinburgh Tram Project, and have engaged in a proactive manner throughout a difficult, costly and often disruptive time for our businesses.

 

At the Council Meeting on Thursday members of the Tram Business Forum represented our views to the Councillors. They made it clear that city centre businesses remained supportive of the tram project. They also outlined the desire to see a clear decision made, with an innovative and well funded package of measures in place to support the City Centre during the track laying. The subsequent decision by Council to take the line as far as Haymarket came as a great surprise to many businesses in the area. However, the decision to halt the tram line at Haymarket has mainly been met with a sense of relief.

 

Christine Cooper at The Extra Inch on William Street said  "Thank goodness common sense has prevailed! We can give a sigh of relief that the independent retailers will survive, although sadly too late for many, who have been forced to close due to this severe impact the tram fiasco has caused. The West End Village can offer the public a wonderful shopping experience with easy access now this has been settled without the turmoil we have had over the last three years"

 

Stephen Fairfield, owner of House Of Hearing on Stafford Street suggested that "this is the best outcome for the West End. The tram would have completely stymied traffic flow along Shandwick Place and would have made access more difficult, not less".

 

Daniel Johnson, creative director and Studio One & Paper Tiger noted that  "in the current trading environment, tram works on Shandwick Place would have created a terminal situation for many businesses in the West End" and went on to suggest that "this is a compromised solution. However, the door is open for future development and the challenge is to make it work. In the meantime many retail businesses have been saved by this decision".

 

Ryan's Bar General Manager Jason Borthwick told the Edinburgh Evening News that the council's decision was "scandalous". The 32-year-old said: "I think it's shocking. The whole of the town has had all of this disruption and now it's been for nothing. "Because of the tram works, outside the pub is a labyrinth of road works. It's just an eyesore".

 

Michael Apter, Chair of the Association commented, “the Councillors were left with an array of difficult and unpalatable decisions at their meeting on Thursday, and there was never going to be a right choice. Council Officers have been charged with picking up the pieces of the project left by TIE, and we can only hope that they can find innovative and imaginative ways to provide Edinburgh with a transport system that is in harmony with the needs and aspirations of the city, and matches the finances at it’s disposal. In the meantime, businesses in the West End have some respite during the difficult economic conditions that we are enduring in the city”.

 

The concerns of business owners in the West End are now focused on how and if the Princes Street remedial work will affect visitors, and we also need clarity on the proposed Haymarket work. The Association remains committed to the principle of a tram for Edinburgh.