An angry Edinburgh businessman has accused the council of carrying out noisy and disruptive repairs outside his shop - without any notice.
Adam Barclay, who runs Argonaut Books on Leith Walk, says Edinburgh Council has shown 'no respect for the livelihoods' of his staff while constructing the new tram lines to Newhaven.
But on Tuesday, the council's transport boss has hit back at the claims - saying they've been highlighting the work in their newsletter and on social media.
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The shop owner shared his complaints on social media on Monday, posting images of a construction worker outside this shop drilling into the ground. On Tuesday, workers were back again drilling into the wall outside the bookshop.
Speaking to Edinburgh Live, Adam said: "When previous work was carried out by the council on the shop like lamp installation on the street outside, written notice was delivered a month in advance by post.
"While this previous work fitting the lamps was never actually carried out, for reasons we have never had explained, it shows the council has and does contact ahead of time.
"We expect that the explanation will be that since it isn’t technically touching the building, they can do as they please and we advise that the council look to their own rules surrounding the curtilage of listed buildings and noise disruption."
The council explained that as the tram project is ongoing it’s likely that there may be some work on it at different times.
Adam explained: "We are always happy to work with the council to get the required work done but there is, as has been the pattern throughout this whole project, a fundamental lack of communication and respect for livelihoods on Leith Walk."
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However the council disputes that businesses were not informed of the work being carried out.
Councillor Scott Arthur, Transport and Environment Convener told Edinburgh Live: “The project wrote to all affected properties along the 5km route last year about the commencement of a programme of works to affix street lighting apparatus to their buildings as part of the Trams to Newhaven project and also the Council’s citywide street lighting upgrades.”
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