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Edinburgh city centre shops drag their feet



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Published Date: 28 April 2008
By MICHAEL BLACKLEY
PRINCES Street is attracting fewer visitors than main shopping streets in other UK cities, new official data has revealed.
Footfall counter cameras show that the Capital's busiest point – outside Marks & Spencer on Princes Street – has never risen above the UK average for 2008.

An average of 268,996 shoppers per week were counted there during the first quarter of the
year – while the UK average has only once fallen below 300,000.

Edinburgh's busiest week so far – the week beginning February 11, during the run up to Valentine's Day – saw 351,636 shoppers visit Princes Street. The council admits that the city centre is underperforming, but is confident that current schemes would boost the figures.

Councillor Tom Buchanan, the city's economic development convener, said: "These figures come as no surprise as we are aware our city centre is underperforming.

"However, the council has been widely praised for taking proactive steps to deal with these problems, such as developing the 'string of pearls' concept for investment and development within the city centre.

"The council takes seriously the issues of city centre regeneration. It is absolutely vital that we work with private sector partners to ensure Princes Street returns to its rightful position as a premier retail and leisure location."

The footfall counters were installed at the end of last year by pedestrian monitoring firm Springboard as part of a three-year £100,000 scheme by Edinburgh City Centre Management.

But because of the short time the cameras have been in operation, it is not known whether performance is up or down on last year.

The other Princes Street counter, outside Frasers, showed the east end attracted significantly fewer shoppers, with an average of just 155,957 people per week.

Graham Bell, a spokesman for Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said: "I wouldn't read too much into these figures. If we had a history of figures it would be easier to interpret these.

"Edinburgh as a city with a population of 440,000 is markedly smaller than other cities."

Fiona Moriarty, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the completed tram project will allow Edinburgh to challenge any city in the UK. She said: "Once the trams are in place, we will have a world-class transport infrastructure."





The full article contains 382 words and appears in Edinburgh Evening News newspaper.
Page 1 of 1

 
1

john 1,

28/04/2008 12:16:09
Nae wonder. What is there on that street worth going for nowadays?
2

The Genuine Mario Antoinette,

28/04/2008 12:18:40
5 Points to Graham Bell for stating the obvious but in a good way. Edinburghs not a big city so why would it be above the average of this frankly mad "foot counting" nonsense.

Nul point to Fiona Moriarty as the trams are certainly not a bad idea but will hardly give edinburgh a "world class transport infrastructure".

1 and a half railway stations. A million buses and a single tram line.
3

Bob 2,

28/04/2008 12:29:24
what a shock, EN tell us something we don't already Know.

Given the Tat Shops and the General poor state of the pavements, why would anyone want to shop on Princes Street.

Ok if you want a Burger or a Mobile phone
4

Bob 2,

28/04/2008 12:32:29
Fiona Moriarty, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the completed tram project will allow Edinburgh to challenge any city in the UK. She said: "Once the trams are in place, we will have a world-class transport infrastructure."


beam me up Scotty,

One there will be less Tram stops and the Trams will whizz past many of the shops.

The trams will make shopping at the Gyle and Ocean Terminal even more attactive,

Who would want to be out shopping on Princes Street on a wet and windy day, when you can whizz out on the Trams to shops undercover at one of Edinburgh Shopping Malls !!!
5

Padraig,

28/04/2008 12:42:58
So Princes Street's low footfall is nothing to do with high council tax (which drove out the good stores), dismal yet expensive parking, streets closed to traffic and avaricious parking attendants! Well, that's all right then! So what's the problem? Where can the city council be going wrong?
6

Kirsty Boyd-Williamson,

New Town 28/04/2008 12:46:39
The city council has little control over who can occupy Princes Street's shops. Over the years I have watched the street denegrate to the point where those most attracted to it appear to be the sorts who would take The Sun or the Daily Sport and who would be surprised to learn that it is normal to sit whilst dining. So long as the shops seek to attract the chav classes then Princes Street will retain its chav ambience.
7

eric,

Lothian 28/04/2008 12:47:46
Returning to premiere shopping street !That would explain why i my family and freind have been shopping in Glasgow for the last 30yrs.And now tram LINE that goes nowhere.
8

eric,

28/04/2008 12:48:03
s
9

Hmm ...,

28/04/2008 12:53:15
... a "string of pearls" CONCEPT with no actual changes, a single tram line in three years time to make a "world class transport infrastructure" and an empty (so far) desire "to ensure Princes Street returns to its rightful position as a premier retail and leisure location."

With all that in its favour, how can Princes Street fail to compete with the Rive Gauche, Sunset Boulevard or even Oxford Street?

If wishes were horses ...
10

Buttress,

28/04/2008 13:01:29
Oh what would this paper do without the 'paid rentagob PR person' quotes of one G Bell, spokesperson for the Chamber of Commerce? That's when Hewitt isn't available of course.

Maybe of course the weather has something to do with it - or maybe with the Chamber of Commerce permanenly pushing to have more grim office blocks and dismal hotels and conference centres built, is something to do with why people would rather shop elsewhere? The city is losing it attractiveness?

The trams are not going to attract anyone - who is Finoa Moriarty kidding?


11

Scallywag,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 13:15:14
oh eric we know. ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!!!!!!!!!

#5 your argument is one I've always wondered about. The high council tax drives out the good stores but somehow cheap tat shops can operate on the same site and somehow manage to pay these high taxes. I'm not sure how thats adds up.
Either
1. Nobody actually shopped in these 'good' shops
2. As, possibly, independant traders they didn't have a back up to absort the running costs of taxes etc.
3. These tat shops are doing tremendous business
4. or something else.
12

Annoyingboi,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 13:17:59
Ditch the whole shopping lark in Edinburgh completely and turn the street into a museum, it'd certainly be more interesting than what's there now!
13

Logie Almond,

28/04/2008 13:38:52
#5
"So Princes Street's low footfall is nothing to do with high council tax (which drove out the good stores )".
Stores don't pay council tax, they pay business rates which are the same throughout Scotland and very similar throughout the UK. Get your facts right before you indulge in sarcasm.
14

Suzi B,

28/04/2008 13:46:20
#12 You've got a point.
The centre of Edinburgh would do well to become a cultural centre instead of a shopping centre. Bring the museum down from Chambers Street, haul the city library down there too, have eating places, squeeze in an indoor theme park with rides somewhere and you've got a centre worth visiting. Ironically, it would probably lead to a resurgence of shopping in the area.

Maybe I am jaded after years of living abroad, but The Gyle and Ocean Terminal don't make for an interesting shopping day-perhaps a couple of hours at most, so I won't be hopping on a tram to visit either. If Ocean Terminal had a hundred more shops it would be worth a look, but until then I think it is a bit of a yawn.
15

Scallywag,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 13:55:02
#14 Suzi B
"an interesting shopping day" now there is an oxymoron if ever I heard one.

Ideal saturday shopping day up town
Decide the night before what you really need. Why spend cash on something you don't.
Decide on what shops you can afford to buy in. Don't go looking at Harvey Nicks if you can only afford M&S.
Hit the shops 10:30 and see how you have done by 12noon.
Pick one of the many nice boozers and get in sharp for lunch and some drinks and buy a paper or magazine.
Stay there till 4 and decide whether you really need to go anywhere else. Jump on the bus or tram and head home before ordering the carryout and snuggling down in front of the tele for a night of Ant & Dec!!!!!!
16

Jingsitsme,

EDINBURGH 28/04/2008 14:00:55
The tat shops in Princess Street bring it down. You go along and see the old Romanes and Patersons eyesore then further along more of same - well suited for Ingilson not Princess Street. Why do we allow them to destruct our main street. And you wonder why numbers are down????
17

Billy Effluvia,

Paris, France 28/04/2008 14:15:09
Comment number 8 says it all for me.

"S", indeed.
18

Teofilio Cubillas,

28/04/2008 14:16:17
It's not rocket science. Princes Street is full of the same crap shops (actually, make that even more crap, I forgot about Gold Brothers' various city centre flea pits) that you can find in any out of town mall like the Gyle. At the Gyle, though, you can park your car nearby without the risk of being ticketed and if it's raining, you can stroll about without getting wet.

Princes Street is also a magnet for the city's unemployed dross who, after getting out of their beds mid-morning, make their way down to the city centre for a spot of thieving or hanging about with their fag-smoking, foul-mouthed layabout pals.

In short, make it somewhere that ordinary, decent folk would like to go, without being fleeced by the council or being assailed by home grown beggars and Roma gypsy flower sellers, and the 'footfall counter' may just start rising.
19

My opinions count for more than yours,

because I'm special 28/04/2008 14:20:11
16.

"Why do we allow them to destruct our main street."

More to the point, why do we allow semi-literates to "destruct" our English language? See comment 11 with its references to "independant" traders that "absort" running costs. Why would anyone pay even the slightest attention to such puerile comments? And mine's a large one.


20

Buttress,

28/04/2008 14:28:36
Is that 'special' as in 'brew' then 19? :-)
21

Hamish B,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 14:29:54
I am sick and fed up with all these so called experts at the City of Edinburgh council who come up with vision after vision for Princes St and yet do sod all about the problem. They are getting paid far too much to drag things on and on-that is why things in Edinburgh take 10 times longer than other cities as they are all talk but NO action and when it is actioned,it is a disappointment as they hype it up too much!!!.
22

Jingsitsme,

EDINBURGH 28/04/2008 14:49:42
#19 - yes indeed - agree with you totally.

Time we took hold of our city and culture again and stood tall. Other cities in other countries would not allow it in theirs. We have been the soft touch.

There's something not right about how successful these tat shops are compared to others who were not even although rates are high. Is it that some shops get reduced rates????? Perhaps the failed shops were honest good shops forced out by the bad? Is it the successful ones perhaps are not paying all taxes as they should?? Perhaps operate 2 sets of books?? It's time we found out.

If Princess Street was full of good British shops selling quality uk goods then we would support them and push for help with rates for them.

Give us back our scottishness in our city before we loose it for good. That's what we want and the tourists!

So #19 a large one is on the bar!!
23

11+failed,

the pans 28/04/2008 15:00:23
I remember Princes Street, I was there about 5 years ago and decided I should never be back. Enjoy a nice drive to Craigpark or Straiton, park for free, choose your television or whatever, drive home and order it on the internet, it's cheaper and have it delivered for free. If you must have some shopping therapy have a day out in Glasgow.
24

Jingsitsme,

EDINBURGH 28/04/2008 15:05:50
#23 - yes indeed!!

Mind u Glasgow would become the same if it did not have the likes of the barrowlands to hem in the tat a bit!
25

HughB,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 15:15:38
If it seems bad just now, just wait until Princes St is closed for years while they dig it up and try to get the trams up and running.

This will turn the main street in Edinburgh into a dusty, muddy, noisy, fenced off no go area for a long, long time. The tourists won't want to go there (remember there are tourists visiting Edinburgh all year round, not just during the festivals).

This is probably why no company in there right mind will be investing in Princes St at the moment, because it will become a dead zone.

No cars, buses or anything will be able to drive along there. It used to be good to be able to drive along Princes St, but they ruined that. It used to be good to travel along Princes St on a bus, but they are going to ruin that as well.

Tourists used to be able to take pictures of the Castle from Princes St, but with all the machinery and fencing in the way, this will be impossible.

What a mess.
26

Andrew,

28/04/2008 15:16:30
Princes Street - literally a one-sided, litter-strewn, traffic-laden, fume-noxious, noisy, non-pedestrianised "shopping" street - if you like tartan!
27

HughB,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 15:28:58
The stories about the stone throwing neds down in Leith have got nothing on this lot ripping the heart out of Edinburgh just so they can install a fancy new train set.

Just think about all the nice rocks that will be available in the centre of Edinburgh as well.

28

Gastric Antral Vascular Ectasia,

28/04/2008 16:24:40
I'm not racist, but I think this is a Scottish problem.
29

Loki - The Scourge of the Schemies,

EH1 28/04/2008 16:26:03
#7 And now tram LINE that goes nowhere.

It will go to Scotland's busiest airport, Eric. All the closer to your fellow shellsuit fashionistas.
30

My opinions count for more than yours,

because I'm special 28/04/2008 16:47:55
29, your comment proves my earlier point. Do you ever look at what you write?

"And now tram LINE that goes nowhere."

Do you know what a verb is? Or a comma? And why, for God's sake, is the word "LINE" all in upper-case?

31

Buttress,

28/04/2008 17:01:28
I suspect that 'LINE' is in upper case to emphasise that's all there is - one line...


32

,

28/04/2008 17:13:44
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
33

Keith J Bell,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 17:16:08
Fiona Moriarty, director of the Scottish Retail Consortium, said the completed tram project will allow Edinburgh to challenge any city in the UK. She said: "Once the trams are in place, we will have a world-class transport infrastructure."

There will only be ONE tram stop for the whole of Princes St. I can see them all queueing up at the travel agents for their weekend break to Edinburgh just so they can visit Princes St and have a wee burl on the trams. Woo-hoo!!!
34

Douglas,

Bathgate 28/04/2008 17:17:32
At the risk of having my eyes scratched out, the word "line" is in upper case because THAT'S how it appeared in the original posting (#7) which is being quoted. No quotation marks I'll grant you, but it's kind of obvious.
Anyway, by a spooky coincidence I was shopping in Edinburgh today, at The Gyle to be precise, and in my humble opinion it's a grim wee parade of mobile phone shops spaced out between cheap clothing outlets. The "food court" found for the prosecution on the charge of bland and characterless as well as needing a tables that don't wobble and someone to wipe down the walls.
It's not just Princes Street methinks, but the whole town that needs a rethink.
35

Suzi B,

28/04/2008 18:31:58
#34 I'm with you Douglas, on the subject of the Gyle. Decent Marks and Spencers and that's where it ends for me.
Probably better to take a trip out to Livvie if you are in the mood for a bit of a shop or head to Glasgow for a lot of a shop.
Mind you, Oxford Street used to be Londons major shopping street-anyone been there recently? It is just as bad as Princes Street, if not worse.
36

,

28/04/2008 18:57:39
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
37

,

28/04/2008 18:59:22
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
38

randomer,

28/04/2008 19:07:14
I know Iam going to get shouted at for syaing this, but create more pedastrian streets. And I don't mean pedestrainise the old ones, create brand new streets.
Part of the joy of shopping in some cities are the shopping districts are not just one street, its a rabbit warren of small side streets which can be pleasurable to get lost in and visit boutique stores. When/if some of the hidious 60s/70s architecture gets demolished build in some new lanes down one side for the more boutique-esq shops. This could also open up rose street more.
39

Kirsty Boyd-Williamson,

New Town 28/04/2008 19:07:31
34 Douglas ~ the whole town that needs a rethink.

I would disagree with you in part. Retail figures are generally based on quantity with no provision made for the quality of shopping. Edinburgh is well provided with quality shopping. But it is not to be found on Princes Street or at the areas you describe.
I would most certainly concur with your view of The Gyle Centre and, by association, Straiton, Ocean Terminal and Fort Kinnaird. These dreadful places seem to be aimed at wretched souls who would show no hint of embarrassment in admitting to having their homes furnished by B&Q, Argos or IKEA!
40

Kirsty Boyd-Williamson,

New Town 28/04/2008 19:09:40
#38 I won't shout at you, I promise. Perhaps because I 100% agree with you. ;-}
41

yockel,

28/04/2008 19:24:13
This Princes Street, wasn't there a street there once?
42

Conan the Librarian™,

28/04/2008 21:29:42
You have to compare like with like.Most other great shopping steets, actually have shops on BOTH sides of the Street.
43

Dr Egg,

Earth 28/04/2008 21:32:07
What the drok is the string of pearls concept!!!???

Thank you Labour for breaking my city.
44

Scotish Exile,

28/04/2008 21:38:31
#42
They have decent shops, not tat, burgers and mobile phones, oh and TGB's on every street corner!
45

Douglas,

Bathgate 28/04/2008 21:43:46
#36 Mario: Since shoe shops were invented I suppose. Oh, and Boots.
And if you think that's weird you should see the foot of our stairs.
46

Real Tailer,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 21:59:43
People get the council they deserve and, as a result,over time, they get the city they deserve. Reading the quality of the contributions here depresses me. You're not very bright - most of you. Not bright at all.
Its like this:
Quality shops left Princes Street because it has some significant handicaps as a place of retail business. Chief among these problems are that the units are too small, are poorly configured, have no adjacent parking and are expensive. It helps that the council gave them alternatives caleed Gyle, Kinnaird etc. The current generation of councilors recognise that this was a BIG mistake - and just in time too. (Though, if politics was any sort of decent career option and could thus attract really capable people, the council would have twigged to this two decades ago...but that's another blog..)
Why can down-market businesses appear to make Princes Street pay? Because their other overheads are relatively low as a proportion of their income and the size / configuration issue is not a problem for them nor is the car parking as their goods are small in size or are services rather than fmcg (ride the one- armed bandit anyone?)
Can the council do anything about this dearth of quality? Short term "no" - its a free market thing. Long-term; yes, they can do certain things to bias the market in favour of more upmarket, attractive businesses. Specifically, what they are doing now, with the help of city centre business leaders, is introducing a Business Improvement District and examining some other innovative means of consolidating property ownership on Princes Street. This is important as it is the key to creating the larger units top retailers want.
The Tram? Transport panacea? No. Better than nothing? Absolutely. Although investment into cross-rail would have been better and still much needed.
Edinburgh retail overall? Catching up with Glasgow - and that is a stone cold fact. I see the numbers every day and, what is more, although the Weegies outn
47

Real Tailer,

edinburgh 28/04/2008 22:01:57
continued.....Catching up with Glasgow - and that is a stone cold fact. I see the numbers every day and, what is more, although the Weegies outnumber us 2:1 the demographics mean that as soon as St James Quarter creates supply of decent sized and serviced retail accommodation there's going to be a major reversal in the central-belt shopping balance of power as we've known it over the last 30 years.
Final thoughts...do any of you contribute anything to the city other than a few quid in council tax and exhaled CO2? Thought not.
48

Suzi B,

28/04/2008 22:19:56
#39 Kirsty.
Some people show no embarrassment at having furnished their homes from Argos, Ikea and B&Q possibly because they are just happy to have managed to afford to have furnished their house. As you sigh with happiness as you sink into your bespoke chaise longue and glance at your dining table made from West African driftwood, think on.
49

Rod,

Champfleurie Estate 28/04/2008 22:33:00
47 Real Tailer
Weegies outnumber us 2:1

'Fraid not. The ratio from the Registrar General's Office is 1 : 1.29 (448624 v 577869)
The final paragraph of your otherwise well reasoned critique is both crass and ignorant as you simply do not know what others here may or may not contribute to the city. Supposition is NOT fact!
50

Charles Linskaill,

Edinburgh 28/04/2008 22:35:41
Did I not read an article recently in this paper, that the,..'Arabs' wanted to purchase "PRINCES Street"?

If so no-doubt there will be a 'roaring trade' going on soon, the Trams may get 'Bombed-out' and its Camel Travel folks! (don't trust any camel though)

:-))
______________________

Princes Street, will 'bounce back' I recon, its just a lull, most stores do a great job upgrading their stores every 3years, but the council dont do much to help, allowing the 'tacky-shops' to survive

Anyone want a 'Kilt' for £11.99,?

Book Shop 'Closing Down Sale',,,,Now the 101st Sale!

'Line-Up',,'Line-up',,,all Items a Pound!

One thing! that 'Silver Guy' must do OK!

Now wheres my paint,?
51

Alasdair,

28/04/2008 22:39:17
#46 - the official figures on shopping expenditure, footfall, and value, would tend to oppose your "stone cold fact".
Instead of apocraphal opinions, why not link to some sources.

Our council has shafted shopping. If you think we're "catching up to Glasgow", you're mental. I've seen Princes Street go from being the Premier shopping street in Scotland to being an embarrassment. Meanwhile the weegies have been building new shopping complexes and increasing capacity and value. The report in last years Times had Buchanan Street at 7th most valuable shopping street in the WORLD. Are you honestly telling us we're catching up on that, or simply posting wishful thoughts?
52

Jim Baxter RIP,

Sai Kung, Hong Kong 29/04/2008 02:54:45
#6
Whats wrong with the sun and daily sport?
Have you read the Scotsman and EEN recently ?
Hardly media leaders?
53

Peter Wyngarde,

29/04/2008 03:54:49
Bring back John Menzies, thats will put it all right again
54

,

01/05/2008 17:09:33
Comment Removed By Administrator
Reason:
55

livilion,

livingston 09/06/2008 12:29:43
So you don't want cars in the city and you've shut down the main roads into the traditional shopping areas to install a tramline?

No parking provision for new tenants of executive flatted housing down at the Waterfront.

Shockeroonie!
Folks are voting with their throttle pedal feet and spending their money where they and their families in their cars are made welcome.


 

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