Edinburgh’s tram bosses have insisted they are on schedule to complete work on Princes Street in time for this weekend’s festive shopping deadline.
Buses and taxis are due to return to the capital’s main shopping street in time for the Christmas period.
The street has been closed to all traffic since February for work on Edinburgh’s new tram system.
Retailers are concerned that the nine-month closure may have damaged the street’s reputation.
Richard Jeffrey, chief executive of Tie, which was the company set up to oversee the trams project, said Princes Street would open to traffic at 0500 GMT on Sunday.
He said: “Princes Street has never been closed to pedestrians but obviously once it is reopened to buses and taxis and everything is restored to normality, it will be a big pull for people into the city centre to do their Christmas shopping.”
Gordon Bell, a Scottish retail consultant, said: “A lot of shopping has been done already, however, the other problem is shoppers are creatures of habit and we have given them the opportunity to go elsewhere to experience new shopping.
“Just because we have reopened the street doesn’t mean they will come rushing back.”
Recent Comments