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Edinburgh Live
Edinburgh Live
National
Steven Brown

Edinburgh business owners slam chaos caused by tram works as 'nightmare' ends

Edinburgh trams to Newhaven officially launches last week - with locals turning up in droves for the momentous occasion.

Residents turned up to the first day of business on June 7 - but not everyone was convinced the tram line will benefit them.

Throughout the construction of the line, some Leith Walk business owners have reported feeling impacted by the tram works.

READ MORE: Excited Edinburgh passengers in huge queues for first tram journey to Newhaven

Edinburgh Live went down to the foot of Leith Walk and spoke to a number of business owners to find out their views on the trams finally being operational after so much disruption has been reported in the area.

Co-owner of Pekoetea, Jon Cooper, is very optimistic about the trams now running through Leith and to Newhaven, he said: "I am very happy to see the trams."

Jon's business moved to Leith Walk in 2021 and knew they would experience some disruption due to the trams.

"I absolutely believe that the trams will benefit us as a business. It will make it a lot smoother for people to get from the centre of Edinburgh, down here particularly because covid is over and with so many tourists coming to the city," he added.

Ingrid Deprez, owner of Cafe Praline is hopeful about the trams and what it can do for her business, she said: "Hopefully the trams will bring more people down to Leith Walk but there just aren't that many stops on the walk, I think there are about three."

Ingrid is unsure if the trams will be beneficial to her business and the rest of Leith. (Steven Brown)

"I guess we will just have to wait and see but I think there should have been more information about when the trams were going to start taking people because we were not in the loop about that."

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Jane Ross, owner of the bar, The Mother Superior, located on Leith Walk is happy that the trams are here and the works are finished but believes more work has to be done.

She also feels 'bittersweet' about the circumstances surrounding the trams.

Jane is happy that the trams are here but feels like it is a 'bittersweet' moment. (Steven Brown)

The owner of the pub said: "I am happy that the trams are up and running and the works have finished but I think the amount of disruption that they have done to local businesses hasn't been finalised.

"They have just disappeared and not helped with the chaos they have left behind for the business so it's bittersweet.

"I think the trams will definitely help business now that people can get to us, the tram works had us barricaded into the business for so long with very tiny footpaths so it is nice that people can actually get to us again."

Alen Turajlic, owner of Kvasa Bakery is unsure if businesses will benefit from the trams and claims he has experienced a lot of disruption during the construction of the new line to Newhaven.

Alen experienced a lot of disruption during the construction of the trams. (Steven Brown)

"Now that the trams are here, I am happy there is a place for people to get from point A to point B but the route and the way that it was set up looks like it was given to a nursery child to draw it because it doesn't make sense."

"It has been designed really badly but we will see how it goes, today is the first day for people being on the trams so it is really early to say, but yes the community has been really affected by it and I don't think there has been enough said about it, out loud and in the community."

"There was a tiny amount of room to pass our shop and when there is dust blowing in peoples faces no one wants to come in so we have been economically affected by this and there has been no reach out to the community by the council so it was not all-inclusive."

Lea Harrison, Edinburgh Trams Managing Director, said: "The opening of the route will mark another momentous day for the city, and the entire Edinburgh Trams team stands ready to bring its acclaimed brand of service excellence to tens of thousands of new customers in the communities it serves.

"We’re also looking forward to delivering a real boost for local businesses, providing a convenient transport link between the city centre and some of Edinburgh’s most densely populated neighbourhoods, as well as key locations such as Ocean Terminal and Port of Leith.

"With trams from every seven minutes between 6am and midnight, seven days a week, our expanded tram timetable will help firms large and small to attract new business while helping their employees get to and from work."

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