00:00An Edinburgh Council project designed to improve walking and cycling conditions in the north of
00:06the city has left some Leith businesses frustrated due to disruption caused from ongoing roadworks.
00:12Graham Parsons, who runs the Roseleaf Bar Cafe with his wife Kylie, was told in January that
00:18construction fences erected outside his bar would be removed within two months, but now more than
00:24200 days later they remain in place. He said the barriers have led to a decline in footfall in
00:29the area and although he supports the project believes the delivery of the scheme has been poor.
00:35It's made it very difficult for us to attract passing trades which in hospitality is kind of
00:41the lifeblood of what we try and do here. It's difficult for people to actually figure out how
00:47to get in and we've had customers contact us, potential customers saying that they couldn't
00:53actually navigate the fence, so that's the biggest challenge for us. It's really frustrating,
00:59it's a difficult time for the industry overall. Hospitality is really struggling at the moment
01:04because it overheads in other areas in the business. This is something that's being highlighted in
01:09Parliament at the moment, so this is like one more nail in the coffin for us to actually have it
01:14difficult for people to come in and spend money with us who want to spend money here. And I know how
01:21they feel because there's some mornings that I've actually been trying to come into work and I can't
01:24figure out how to get in here. Works to build a new cycle lane and pedestrian walkway got underway in
01:30November and while the council says it has worked with businesses to minimise disruption, Graham said
01:36ongoing works have had detrimental effects. In terms of the actual businesses down at the shore,
01:42biologists went out of business two months ago. Mimi's had to sell half their premises
01:49because of the challenges that are presented by this and other businesses have had to take loans out
01:55to reinvest just to stay afloat. One of the most damaging things is that the bus service to the
02:01shore was completely taken away for two whole months in January and February and I think that's when we
02:07all felt the biggest pinch possible because there was no way for people to get down to us by public
02:12transport and cars find it really difficult to get anywhere near us. They had assured me it's not as
02:18bad as it seems, it's really bad just now but the fence in and the work will be away from me and it will
02:24move down towards the bridge by the end of February and the fences are still here and we're almost in September.
02:34The council's transport and environment convener councillor Stephen Jenkinson said,
02:39I appreciate the concerns of this particular business and regret that these works have taken
02:44longer than initially anticipated. Adding the works at Sandport Place are due to be completed in the
02:49coming weeks. The transport convener added, the Leith Connections project team have been in touch with
02:55residents and businesses in the area since before construction commenced along with other key
03:00stakeholders. Our site teams are in regular discussion with local businesses and will continue to
03:06support them in every way possible. I was all in favour of it, I still am in favour of it, it's just the
03:13execution. I'm a local resident, I have a home here, run a business here, my son goes to school here,
03:21so anything that makes the area greener, more pedestrian friendly, fantastic, all for it. But the execution in
03:29terms of engagement with local businesses to find out what the best thing is for the area and how it's executed and
03:36implemented and how it stays on budget and on time, that's what I have an issue with, not the actual project itself.
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