Received this in response to piece about construction disruption (see it below):
“‘Without trams, all of these utilities will at some point be dug up.’ – but not necessarily involving total road closures for very long periods. If you do not think it needs to be disruptive speak to the people in Sheffield, Nottingham or even Croydon.”
MY RESPONSE 1.
Is it better to have the road closed entirely for a while in return for no roadworks whatsoever for the foreseeable future, thus getting it over and done with, or would you prefer to have the road continually partially dug up by different utilities time after time, with associated regular disruption?
MY RESPONSE 2.
Because the road works, utilities relocation etc are part of the tram project, businesses affected will get COMPENSATION.
Unfortunately, here I have to quote from TIE’s website. This is the compensation:
“In addition to this, tie has worked with the Council and the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce to introduce a package for those businesses directly affected by the works. This includes a minimum 20% reduction in Business Rates, a Small Business Top Up Financial Support Scheme and an “Open for business” Communication and Marketing package for the city centre during the construction phase”. There will be no compensation if the trams don’t go ahead, but the road works do.
So, in answer to the comment I received: THE ROADWORKS WILL STILL NEED DONE, BUT WITHOUT TRAMS, BUSINESSES WILL NOT GET COMPENSATION.
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