The council say it remains impossible to move trams past the site of the Princes Street fire which took place in the early hours of the morning on 9 July.
It is also impossible to understand why it is taking so long to get the city moving again on the eve of the Edinburgh festivals. Some pedestrians are being routed through Princes Street Gardens where they may not have otherwise ventured, but the knock on effect on businesses and people living further afield in Leith or Newhaven where they must now only rely on buses is immense.
The council issues updates on its dedicated webpage.
At the time of the fire all 27 trams were in the depot and since then not one tram has travelled further than the West End stop at Shandwick Place.
Buses have been rerouted as the main thoroughfare – where most services end up at one time or another – is closed between South Charlotte Street and Frederick Street. Many bus services are diverted onto George Street, causing delays and congestion.
But the council says that work must be allowed to continue to secure the front of the building which is precarious and could fall down, which would be a risk to the public.
Assembly who would usually have put up outdoor structures on George Street have been moved to St Andrew Square where they will erect a Spiegeltent and other temporary buildings to allow Fringe shows to take place. Shows in Assembly Rooms are unaffected.
Structural engineers are instructing that a steel frame is erected to reinforce the facade. Once it is in place then vehicles will once again be allowed to use Princes Street.
If wind speeds do not get any higher then it is expected that the work will take three weeks. But the weather is a big factor when using cranes.
The eastern end of the building is almost secure and the cordon is expected to move back allowing Boots on Princes Street to reopen.
And the good news according to a council spokesperson is that the original Victorian staircase and the Disraeli stained glass windows are “relatively unscathed”.
If you are confused as to what actually went on fire then historian, Andy Arthur has written a post on Threadinburgh where he explains the complex building and also the history of fires on Princes Street. Read more here.
Transport and Environment Convener, Councillor Stephen Jenkinson said: “Whilst I understand how concerning this news will be to everyone, I want to reiterate that we’re doing everything within our power to reopen Princes Street as soon as it’s safe to do so. The complexity of the remedial work cannot be understated, with specialists working, mostly by hand, under extremely challenging circumstances.
“I’m acutely aware of the impact that this is having across the city each and every day, and I’ll repeat my thanks to the public for their continued patience during this incredibly difficult time. The city is very much open, and I’d encourage everyone to support our fantastic local businesses as we enter the August festival season.
“We’re continuing to work alongside our partners, particularly Edinburgh Trams and Lothian Buses, to keep Edinburgh moving. A part-tram service and full bus services continue citywide, but please plan ahead and allow plenty of time for your journey. We’ve also increased the number of Voi e-bike parking locations and hires available across the city, helping people to get around easier.
“It’s positive that the cordon is being reduced, and the fact that these key historical features of the site have survived is a rare silver lining in this terrible event.
“From tram and bus drivers working overtime to the engineers on site, Council colleagues and many more, I’d like to thank everyone who has been involved in the response so far.
“Despite these trying circumstances I’ve no doubt we can all enjoy a fantastic summer here in the world’s cultural capital.”
Malones in Leith say that Leith is not closed. The Constitution Street business is taking advantage of the time in August when trams will not pass their front door to introduce a full August programme. They have new menus, a new Guinness brunch, trained their staff, and have run events including a pay what you want Irish class.
The business says that they are battening down the hatches and investing in the community on their doorstep.
Charlie Douglas, General Manager at Malones Leith, said: “The trams being off has been a real blow for everyone down here, and I’ve got nothing but sympathy for the businesses feeling the pinch. But writing Leith off isn’t the answer.”
He continued, “Our thinking was simple – if it’s harder to get into town, let’s give people every reason to stay local and enjoy what’s on their doorstep. So rather than cut back, we’ve invested: in our team, in our menus, and in a full month of things for the community to come out for. Leith isn’t closed. It’s open, and it’s ours.”
August programme at a glance: pay-what-you-can Irish language classes, free
barrel-top whiskey tasting sessions, Tarot & Tipples evenings, Kids Eat Free plus
a new children’s menu, a new dessert and hot drinks menu and an Irish Boozy Brunch
every Friday (£35pp, 11am–5pm).
Read more about the plans for the business at 48-52 Constitution Street on their website. And get on down to Leith!
