A community roadshow is to go around Scotland to emphasise that the City Centre remains open despite the upcoming disruption with the tramway construction. The roadshow is coming out of the £100,000 Open for Business budget and will visit areas in Scotland where people regularly visit the city centre.
The roadshow will include a video showing the shopping and tourist attractions of Edinburgh and also information about how the construction works are affecting the city centre.
Graham Birse, Deputy Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: “This is one of our first steps in getting the message over that the city and its shops, bars, hotels and restaurants are very much open for business. The roadshows are essentially a public information exercise and details will be broadcast something like 500 times during each session, so it will be letting people know what Edinburgh has to offer."
A special steering group has been formed to manage the Open for Business campaign. Included in the group are transport operators and business groups with the Chamber of Commerce chairing it. They are planning on visiting Nottingham shortly to see if any lessons can be learned from how they coped with disruption.
Cllr Jenny Dawe, Council leader, said: “It's always good to remind people of the superb destination on their doorstep and how easy it is to get here. The city is most definitely open as normal with all buses and trains running, any diversions well signposted and plenty of parking available."
The roadshow tour will include Dundee, Glasgow, Glenrothes, Livingston and Kirkcaldy on its list of venues.
* Meanwhile, a survey has shown that people who travel around Edinburgh at least once a month for non-business reasons will not be put off by the construction works. The poll was undertaken by MORI and 78% of 1505 questioned said they would not be put off visiting Edinburgh. The survey also showed most people thought the tram should be introduced to improve transport in the city.
Source: The Scotsman