'It's been so quiet': Leith shop owners struggle as emergency works keep road closed
Bernard Street has been closed due to emergency gas works since Thursday, March 26.
Businesses around Leith Shore say emergency gas works have decimated footfall with a main route being closed for more than a fortnight.
SGN began emergency repairs on Bernard Street on Thursday, March 26 following reports of a gas leak.
Teams have been working to repair the issue which has left the road closed to vehicles, including cars and buses.
Businesses in the surrounding area have felt the impact from the emergency works, with a noticeable drop in customers since the cordon was erected and works began.
Bea Taylor, owner of Flux gift shop, said that the decline in the number of customers visiting her shop this week has been very noticeable, despite the recent good weather and Easter break which normally turns The Shore area into a hotspot.
She said: “It has been really quiet, it’s definitely impacted us. It feels much longer than two weeks.
“We’re usually always busy. It’s a lovely, busy area down here.
“I think people are avoiding coming down the street. I know that it’s essential that the work is done, I’m very grateful they’ve picked up on it and I couldn’t fault the workers outside, but it will be alarming that there’s gas work going on so we have been impacted.”
Petals By The Shore owner Adele Borthwick added that she has also noticed a drop in customers in recent days.
Adele said: “I’m actually getting away early because it’s been so quiet. I’ve also just had a big shipping container placed right outside the shop.”
The florist added other factors that have caused headaches for both business owners, residents and customers in the area include bicycles mounting narrow pavements during the road closure, confusion over the bus gate, other road restrictions and diversions around The Shore, as well noise coming from the ongoing works.
Adele said: “The noise has been quite difficult with the drilling. I had an elderly woman who came in and it was really difficult to hear or speak to her. That has been quite hard.”
Adele also said that she has received a loss of earnings form from SGN to compensate for business losses as a result of the closure on Bernard Street.
During the works, SGN have employed the use of a robotic gas main remediation system, which allows for repairs to aging pipes while reducing the need for additional excavation, traffic disruption or most costly repairs.
SGN have issued an update to Edinburgh Evening News, in which a representative confirmed that “good progress has been made”.
They confirmed that they hope to complete works on Bernard Street by Friday, April 17.