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City centre street in Edinburgh reopens after major fire gutted historic building
Traders expect more customers as trams and buses return to full service after the closure cut footfall for seven weeks, officials and vendors said.
- On Saturday, Princes Street in Edinburgh reopened to full transport after a seven-week closure following a fire at the former Debenhams building. Trams and buses resumed normal operations along the major thoroughfare.
- The July 9 blaze at the former Debenhams caused extensive damage to the B-listed building, disrupting Edinburgh's festival season and forcing the closure of the thoroughfare. Businesses reported immediate drops in footfall.
- Traders at the nearby Castle Street Market expressed optimism for the weekend; stall owner Alan Hannah told Press Association, "It's great, it's just such a delight to have it open," while jeweler Douglas Copland said, "I'm grateful, the sun's out shining."
- Trams returned to their full route between Edinburgh Airport and Newhaven on Saturday morning following a test run. Andy McCreath, who runs Castle Street Flowers, noted the immediate transport impact: "As soon as you remove the buses and the trams, you notice it immediately."
- McCreath, whose market stall has operated for nearly 20 years, cautioned that Princes Street needed sustained support, noting the area appeared "run down for years" as major shops moved to St James Quarter.
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Edinburgh market traders hope for ‘bumper’ business as Princes Street reopens
Market stall owners have been dealing with a drop in footfall since the fire in July.
·London, United Kingdom
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Coverage Details
Total News Sources10
Leaning Left3Leaning Right0Center5Last UpdatedBias Distribution62% Center
Bias Distribution
- 62% of the sources are Center
62% Center
L 38%
C 62%
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