Anger has been expressed by businesses in the West End area of Edinburgh after tie announced they are to return to Shandwick Place to undertake further utility diversion work – work which should have been done two years ago. Traffic diversions were introduced from Saturday 27th February for the work to start.
The utility diversion work will take place until around mid-April with a single lane of city bound traffic open. Shandwick Place is also expected to be fully closed for 18 months to allow the tram tracks to be laid, but because of the ongoing dispute with Bilfinger Berger this has been delayed.
Michael Apter, chairman of the West End Association and director of Paper Tiger, 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."
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."
Source: The Scotsman