Leith Business Association

The revised business case and discussion on the future direction of the Edinburgh Tram Project which was to have been discussed by the City of Edinburgh Council in September has been postponed for a month, according to a report in the Edinburgh Evening News on 25 August:

In the name of God... Move your tram

The main part of the article conerns a discussion over whether the tram currently stored on Princes Street will / should be moved to make way for a procession by Pope Benedict during his forthcoming visit. The end of the article however mentions the postponement of the discussion at the Council meeting which will be held on the same day as the Pope's visit.

Concerns had been expressed that by scheduling a late session of the Council, the Tram Project business case would not have received the scrutiny it deserves.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, the Transport Convenor has stated that in order to provide the councillors and the public with as much information as possible, and to permit ongoing discussions with Bilfinger Berger, the discussion is to be delayed.

Edinburgh North and Leith MSP Malcolm Chisholm has branded as 'unacceptable' possible plans to cut back the Edinburgh Tram Line, as reported in the Edinburgh Evening News on 20 August 2010:

Tram route cutback plans are branded 'unacceptable'

Mr Chisholm, in a letter to Finance Secretary John Swinney has said that three years of disruption for no tangible benefit would be unacceptable to local businesses and residents.  He is urging Mr Swinney to allow the Council to borrow money against future business rates to complete the works.

There is no indication in the article whether Mr Chisholm is advocating this course of action on the basis of the original, outdated Final Business Case, or whether the revised Business Plan due to be presented to the Council in September would affect his recommendation.

At a recent LBA Committee Meeting a question was raised with regard to the forthcoming Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO) which would see major changes to the traffic and parking restrictions on Leith Walk.

As a consequence of the long-running dispute between tie and Bilfinger Berger and the cessation of all on-street works in Leith, and the potential project over-spend which might necessitate a phased implementation of the tram line, there is a possibility that trams will not run on Leith walk for some considerable time.

The concern of businesses on Leith Walk was that the TRO restrictions might still be implemented, or that, having approved the TRO, the changes could be made at any time, without prior notification.

The following response was received from CEC / tie:

"The Update Report on the Edinburgh tram which was submitted to the City Council on the 24 June 2010 provided an update on the project including the budget, scope, programme and contract developments.

The report indicated that it appears that the full Phase 1a tram system cannot be delivered within the available funding envelope of £545m and it states that the cost and programme outcomes will remain uncertain for as long as the current contractual dispute between tie Ltd and their contractor Bilfinger Berger persists.

In view of this, tie Ltd have been instructed to review options for incremental delivery of Phase 1a. This will address the need to manage the project affordability by means of flexible delivery of the on street sections over a longer period of time in a way which provides the Council greater control over the precise timing of the remaining on-street works. The above Council report states that ‘this approach will ensure the investment already made in the project is realised through the delivery of a viable tram service, integrated with bus services, whilst preserving for delivery the entirety of the scope of Phase 1a, as detailed in the Final Business Case’. The stages of Phase 1a service delivery under examination are:-

• Airport to Haymarket 
• Airport to York Place 
• Airport to Foot of the Walk 
• Airport to Ocean Terminal 
• Airport to Newhaven

The final decision on the above options will have a bearing on the TRO requirements. If it is decided to terminate the first stage of the tram works at York Place then changes to the current arrangements along Leith Walk may not be required and steps will be taken to amend the TRO accordingly. Should this occur, no changes would be required in the short-term, however, once the tram works are progressed between York Place and the Foot of the Walk the proposed changes along Leith Walk would likely need to be introduced."

The update report to the Council due in September will hopefully cast some light on the manner in which the project will progress.

Since implementing a ban on A-Boards on the Royal Mile and Rose Street on 1 July the council have uplifted a number of boards and issued warnings to traders who have been ignoring the ban, according to an article in the Edinburgh Evening News on 2 August:

Sign of the times as Council enforces advertising ban

On the first day of the ban the council uplifted 15 boards from the Royal Mile and a further 10 on Rose Street.  Traders must pay a £50 penalty to have the boards returned.

Although the ban does not extend beyond the city centre, businesses should not be complacent, as the council may look to extend the scheme, or apply a more rigid application of the rules in other areas.  Anyone who currently uses an A-Baord should familiarize themselves with the legislation, to ensure that they comply. (See also the Council's 2004 report.)