TIE’s latest ‘messs’ gives iconic street a sex change

COULD it be a sign that tram bosses aren’t quite as well acquainted with the Capital’s most popular street as they should be?

Despite churning it up and closing it off for more than 10 months, bungling tram workers have added an extra “s” to one road sign – pointing the way to “Princess Street”.

The notice, on Frederick Street, says “Entry to Princess Street restricted”.

To add to the gaffe, one insider said that staff were meant to take the sign down three weeks ago when they removed other correct notices – but missed it out by mistake.

Harry Watson, from Barnton, said he travelled on the number 41 bus every day and had to grit his teeth whenever he spotted the blunder.

The 64-year-old said: “I’m guessing the sign was made a long way away and was accepted in good faith, but you have to be a bit surprised workers didn’t notice when they put it up.

“It’s been there for a few months and I guess some people might not have spotted it. Those that have probably groaned and rolled their eyes, then forgot about it. I have e-mailed to point it out, but I’ve had no response yet.”

A local business worker, who asked not to be named, blasted TIE for the mistake. They said “How are they going to handle this grossly delayed and hugely over-priced project if they can’t even spell the name of the street they have worked on for months and months? You could say that’s a sign of how incompetent some people working on this project are.”

A member of staff at J Barbour & Sons, on Frederick Street, said: “Whoops, I hadn’t noticed that. I can’t be very observant.”

An exasperated Steve Cardownie, SNP deputy leader of the city council, called the error “absolutely crazy”.

He said: “You couldn’t make it up. One of the most famous, iconic streets in the world, known throughout China, America, Australia, you name it, and it is not known properly to TIE.

“It’s ironic that the only place with tram tracks laid down sees this mistake.

“They’ll make light of it, but it shows an astounding lack of attention to detail. Maybe by the time this project is up and running Princes Street will have changed to Princess Street.”

It is not the first time silly signage has been erected. TIE bosses were left red-faced in October 2008 when they put up several large metal signs advising drivers of “no access via Hannover Street” – adding a surplus “n”.

Two months before that, contractors working for TIE painted a new speed limit sign the wrong way round.

A spokesman for TIE said: “Many thanks to the eagle-eyed Evening News reader who spotted our contractor’s slight gender confusion over the spelling of Princes Street. The signage will of course be amended.”

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