‘Business as usual’ in Edinburgh as Princes Street reopens after major fire

Traffic is once again travelling along the length of Princes Street in Edinburgh after the thoroughfare reopened following a fire at a historic building in early July.Buses and trams have been able to resume their normal routes after barriers were removed early on Saturday.The road reopened after a section was closed for seven weeks, though traffic on one side is down to one lane because the pavement outside the building remains shut.After an initial test-run shortly after midnight, the trams returned to their full route between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven.Buses and trams services have resumed their usual routes along Princes Street (PA)No-one was injured in the fire on July 9, which took hold at the site of an old Debenhams store.It caused extensive damage to the disused B-listed building and led to disruption during Edinburgh’s festival season.Until Saturday, trams had been unable to run their full route and buses have faced diversions while the City of Edinburgh Council worked to make the building safe again.City of Edinburgh Council leader Jane Meagher told the Press Association: “I couldn’t be more pleased that the city is getting back to business as usual.”She acknowledged the disruption has had a “major impact” on the city, but said making the building and surrounding area safe was the council’s number one priority.“We know that this has had a huge impact on the city and on people visiting the city,” she said.“This happened just on the cusp of one of the biggest arts festivals in the world coming to Edinburgh, so it was inevitably going to have a major impact.”Work to make the building safe has included the removal of several tonnes of bricks and unsafe stonework.Supporting steel beams have been put in place to fully stabilise the front facade of the building, while the eastern gable has also been secured and made safe.Read MoreEarlier this month the Scottish Government announced £5 million in funding to help support recovery from the fire.The council has developed a promotional campaign titled More By The Shore to drive footfall to businesses on the northern section of the tram route, including Leith, Newhaven and The Shore.The extent of the damage to the building meant Princes Street had to be closed for seven weeks (PA)PA Wire“I’m really grateful to the Scottish Government for stepping in because this was an emergency and we didn’t have the means on our own to be able to make the building safe,” Ms Meagher said.“Making the building safe was our huge, major priority, and I’m really pleased that we’ve done that, and we’ve done that in advance of time.“Now that we’ve made the building safe, it will be up to the owners what subsequently happens, and we’re in negotiation with them.“It’s more than one owner, so it is a bit complicated.”Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth said: “News of Princes Street fully reopening will provide relief to business and commuters who have had to adapt during the widespread disruption in the city.“The Scottish Government has been determined from the start to ensure that we support the council in assisting those affected and this is why we provided funding of up to £5 million to keep the city moving and to enable long-term recovery.“We will continue to engage closely with the council and partners while work on the building continues and support for affected businesses continues. This will include examining plans for future resilience.”