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Princes Street closes to traffic Princes Street to shut to traffic
(about 7 hours later)
Edinburgh's main city centre road is to close to traffic on Saturday for a year as work begins to lay rails for trams.Edinburgh's main city centre road is to close to traffic on Saturday for a year as work begins to lay rails for trams.
No traffic will be allowed on Princes Street from South Charlotte Street in the West End to South St David Street, just off St Andrews Square.No traffic will be allowed on Princes Street from South Charlotte Street in the West End to South St David Street, just off St Andrews Square.
Buses, taxis and cycles will be diverted via George street.Buses, taxis and cycles will be diverted via George street.
A break had been planned in the works during August but retailers want the work to continue so Princes Street can reopen in time for the festive period.A break had been planned in the works during August but retailers want the work to continue so Princes Street can reopen in time for the festive period.
It is estimated about 400 businesses will be directly affected by the latest stage of the tram works but pedestrians will still be able to use the walkway on the shop side of the street.It is estimated about 400 businesses will be directly affected by the latest stage of the tram works but pedestrians will still be able to use the walkway on the shop side of the street.
Chris Wayne-Wills runs the Roxburghe Hotel in Edinburgh's West End.
He told BBC Radio Scotland: "Probably the main effect is the buses being diverted along George Street and then also around Charlotte Square which is directly in front of the hotel. Edinburgh's become a world building site not a world heritage site Ray WithieShopkeeper
"Obviously we're very conscious of communicating to our guests that Princes Street is still open.
"My view is that there is going to be benefit in it.
"If it is going ahead we need to do as much as possible as businesses to support it and to try to get through the installation process as quickly as possible. There are longer term benefits for the city."
But there is still strong opposition to the whole tram project.
Ray Withie is a shopkeeper on Edinburgh's Leith Walk.
He told BBC Scotland: "It's a disgrace to Edinburgh.
"Edinburgh's become a world building site not a world heritage site.
"It's not worth it. People are staying away in their droves. They're avoiding these roadworks like anything.
"The whole disruption frankly is not worth it. It is replacing a perfectly good bus network.
"The business plan does not add up. it will not be completed on time or on budget."