Buses To Return to Princes Street For Winter Festivals

Submitted by edg on Fri, 25 Sep '09 6.12pm

Buses, taxis and cycles are to return to Princes Street by the end of November say Edinburgh City Council. Edinburgh's central shopping street and thoroughfare has been a construction zone since February.

The completion of the infrastructure work for Edinburgh's trams could have allowed Princes Street to have become a temporary pedestrian space during the Winter Festivals, but there were fears that would result in a loss of foot traffic for local businesses. A report going before the Policy and Strategy Committee next Tuesday (29th September) recommends that bus traffic should return to the street from the weekend of 28-29 November.

"We recognise that the Christmas and New Year period is a critical time
of year for traders and have acknowledged, and acted upon, their strong
desire for bus traffic to be re-instated to Princes Street at the end
of November. It will also make it much easier for residents and
visitors to access the excellent shops and events in the heart of the
city," said Cllr Jenny Dawe.

Graham Birse, Deputy Chief Executive Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce,
welcomed the move.

"Following months of disruption, traders are
desperate for a fair run at the Christmas market and this is definitely
not the time to experiment with a pedestrian only Princes Street," he said.

"With
its wide pavements and fantastic views, Princes Street will rapidly
regain its popularity once restored to an open and accessible
thoroughfare."

The six week period following the scheduled completion of tram works on Princes Street at the end of November sees around 30% of annual turnover for retailers.

The Christmas and New Year also sees a big influx of visitors for Edinburgh's Winter Festivals, including Edinburgh's Christmas and Edinburgh's Hogmanay.

Cllr Dawe said: "Of course, our Winter Festivals remain an integral part of the City's calendar and work is already underway to ensure that we can accommodate the range of associated, and extremely popular, visitor attractions, such as the ice rink, big wheel, continental market and fairground."

A further report setting out proposals to improve the pedestrian environment in the city centre will be considered by the Transport, Infrastructure and Environment Committee in the New Year.