NEWS: Tram workers disturb the peace

Mark McLaughlin
Edinburgh Evening News
July 13, 2009

PRINCES Street's annual Scotland's For Peace tent at St John's Church may be shelved at this year's Fringe due to the tram works.

Local activists at the Edinburgh Peace and Justice Centre [EPJC] fear their message is being diluted by the network of wire fences and holes outside their base at the church, on the corner of Princes Street and Lothian Road.

They have already been forced to divert their 100th anniversary re-enactment of the Suffragettes march along Princes Street, which originally took place on 10 October, 1909, because of the works.

Janet Fenton, co-ordinator of the EPJC, said this blow, coupled with the cancellation of the Scotland's For Peace tent, will represent a double disappointment for the group and its supporters.

She added: "We usually have a Scotland's For Peace gazebo at the back of the church during The Fringe, but there may be little point this year.

"I know the West End Craft and Design Fair is still going ahead, but we've seen a marked drop in footfall since the tram works moved in and the One World Shop, which shares St John's Church, is in a similar situation.

"We've held the stall for the last three festivals and have considered moving it to a different space, but space isn't easy to find during the Festival."

St John's Church is a hub for local peace, justice and environmental groups, and is renowned for its topical murals that have brought a host of international injustices to the attention of Princes Street shoppers over the years.

The mural is now almost completely obscured by wire fencing.

The EPJC still intends to hold its 100th anniversary Suffragettes rally in October, but it will follow a drastically altered route.

Ms Fenton said: "We will still begin at Bruntsfield Links but the diversion means we'll have to head across George IV Bridge, past the City Chambers - where we'll hopefully receive a warm welcome by the City of Edinburgh - then across The Bridges and on to Waverley Place.

"However, it's still a huge disappointment that we won't be able to retrace the original route because we only get one shot to mark the centenary of this momentous event and it's been scuppered by the trams."

Mandy Haeburn-Little, director of customer services and communications at Edinburgh Trams, said the firm has been working "closely and extensively" with representatives from St John's Church on an ongoing basis regarding the tram works in the area, with further meetings already planned.

She added: "Edinburgh Trams is working closely with partners to ensure that the impact of the tram works is minimised as much as possible.

In relation to the issue surrounding the Suffragettes 100th anniversary march, we have not until now, been made aware of this potential problem. However, we will make contact with the organisation immediately to discuss any support that we may be able to offer."