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STV News
2 days ago
- Politics
- STV News
Tram power lines shutdown after demonstrators 'ignore safety issues'
A pro-Palestinian demonstration is set to be rerouted to avoid protesters getting close to the tram line, after an emergency shutdown of power lines was needed at a march over the weekend. Police Scotland expressed concerns over the August 9 march after a demonstration on Saturday saw 'frantic calls' to get the power to the trams cut off over electrocution concerns. They said that the rally's route was changed two days before it started, which made policing it more difficult and led to road closures not being in place in time. The August 9 march, which is estimated to have 500 participants, is set to be held on the same day as a major Orange walk, which will see 1,500 participants descend on the city centre at the height of the festival. The city's licensing sub-committee considered two pro-Palestine demonstrations from the organisers of Saturday's march on Monday, with one set to run on August 2 and the other on August 9. Police sergeant Grant Robinson said: 'Our assessment was that serious safety issues were frankly ignored by participants and stewards. 'Many presented waving high flags and banners on approach to the Edinburgh Tram line. 'This resulted in an emergency shutdown of the overhead power cables, as if the flags or banners touched or came near these items, the electricity would have arced, causing serious injury or worse. 'It's essential that we have agreed routes with sufficient notice, so that safety measures can be put in place in advance, as this caused frantic calls between police and Edinburgh Trams to enable the shutdown.' A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams confirmed that the power lines were shut down for 15 minutes on Saturday over safety concerns. Sergeant Robinson also said the 'number, ability and knowledge' of the protest stewards was concerning to the police service. He said Police Scotland was willing to arrange third-party free training sessions to 'upskill' stewards. The organisers of the event were not present, having asked if the council sub-committee meeting could be delayed so they could attend. Council officers proposed that the routes of the pro-Palestine rally on August 2 be swapped with one on the 9th, in order to space out the demonstrations happening on that day. Councillors elected not to swap the routes, but modified the route of the march on the 9th to keep it away from the Edinburgh Trams infrastructure. Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked if the organisers could be sanctioned for not attending the sub-committee meeting or for amending the routes of past demonstrations. Council officer Max Mitchell replied: 'This is not a license application, notification of parades. There is no sanction for not attending the committee. 'What the act simply says is that if the council makes an order, and the organiser departs from the terms of that order, that would potentially become a matter for Police Scotland, and would become a statutory offence under the act.' Sergeant Robinson said the police would only charge organisers as a last resort, continuing to say: 'We are very practical. We take an informed, reasonable approach. 'We're looking to do the, you know, engage encourage educate, before we really go down that route. 'I very much stress that we do not want to charge people for exercising their right [to protest], but it is a qualified right.' Addressing the request by council officers to swap the routes of the two marches, Conservative councillor and sub-committee convener Joanna Mowat said: 'I would be mindful not to alter their fundamental structure, as in, they want to go up to the American consulate. 'I don't know why they want to go on the second of August, but that's not relevant for us. 'I would be minded, because we are going to have to do something on the 9th, which is quite a big change that we're going to have to make to their routes, that I wouldn't alter the dates. 'I think public safety has asked us to do that, but I'm not sure we have justification to do that.' For the march on the 9th, committee agreed a new route intended to keep protesters away from the trams, which would run from Waverley Bridge and up Market Street, turning left at the Mound. The previous route had an ambiguous staging area of the Mound itself, which could take protesters close to the tramway at the junction with Princes Street. Cllr Mowat said: 'They shouldn't be going anywhere near tram lines with their banners at that point. 'I mean, obviously that's going to be a conversation public safety is going to have to have with them, because the next thing we're going to have to say is that there will be a no-banners march if they're going anywhere near the tram line.' Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Edinburgh Reporter
3 days ago
- Politics
- Edinburgh Reporter
Pro-Palestine demonstration set to be rerouted to avoid protesters getting close to the tram line
A pro-Palestine demonstration is set to be rerouted to avoid protesters getting close to the tram line, after an emergency shutdown of power lines was needed at a march over the weekend. Police Scotland expressed concerns over the August 9 march after a demonstration on Saturday saw 'frantic calls' to get the power to the trams cut off over electrocution concerns. And they said that the rally had its route changed two days before it started, which added difficulty for them in policing it and led to road closures not being in place in time. The August 9 march with an estimated 500 participants is set to be held on the same day as a major Orange walk, which is set to see 1,500 participants descend on the city centre at the height of the festival. The city's Licensing Sub-Committee considered two pro-Palestine demonstrations from the organisers of Saturday's march on Monday, with one set to run on August 2 and the other on August 9. Police sergeant Grant Robinson said: 'Our assessment was that serious safety issues were frankly ignored by participants and stewards. 'Many presented waving high flags and banners on approach to the Edinburgh Tram line. 'This resulted in an emergency shutdown of the overhead power cables, as if the flags or banners touched or came near these items, the electricity would have arced, causing serious injury or worse. 'It's essential that we have agreed routes with sufficient notice, so that safety measures can be put in place in advance, as this caused frantic calls between police and Edinburgh Trams to enable the shutdown.' A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams confirmed that the power lines were shut down for 15 minutes on Saturday over safety concerns. Sergeant Robinson also said the 'number, ability and knowledge' of the protest stewards was concerning to the police service. He said Police Scotland was willing to arrange third-party free training sessions to 'upskill' stewards. The organisers of the event were not present, having asked if the council sub-committee meeting could be delayed so they could attend. Council officers proposed that the routes of the pro-Palestine rally on the 2nd be swapped with one on the 9th, in order to space out the demonstrations happening on that day. Councillors elected not to swap the routes, but modified the route of the march on the 9th to keep it away from the Edinburgh Trams infrastructure. Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked if the organisers could be sanctioned for not attending the sub-committee meeting or for amending the routes of past demonstrations. Council officer Max Mitchell replied: 'This is not a license application, notification of parades. There is no sanction for not attending committee. 'What the act simply says is that if the council makes an order, and the organiser departs from the terms of that order, that would potentially become a matter for Police Scotland, and would become a statutory offence under the act.' Sergeant Robinson said the police would only charge organisers as a last resort, continuing to say: 'We are very practical. We take an informed, reasonable approach. 'We're looking to do the, you know, engage encourage educate, before we really go down that route. 'I very much stress that we do not want to charge people for exercising their right [to protest], but it is a qualified right.' Addressing the request by council officers to swap the routes of the two marches, Conservative councillor and sub-committee convener Joanna Mowat said: 'I would be mindful not to alter their fundamental structure, as in, they want to go up to the American consulate. 'I don't know why they want to go on the second of August, but that's not relevant for us. 'I would be minded, because we are going to have to do something on the ninth, which is quite a big change that we're going to have to make to their routes, that I wouldn't alter the dates. 'I think public safety have asked us to do that, but I'm not sure we have justification to do that.' For the march on the 9th, committee agreed a new route intended to keep protesters away from the trams, which would run from Waverley Bridge and up Market Street, turning left at the Mound. The previous route had an ambiguous staging area of the Mound itself, which could take protesters close to the tramway at the junction with Princes Street. Cllr Mowat said: 'They shouldn't be going anywhere near tram lines with their banners at that point. 'I mean, obviously that's going to be a conversation public safety are going to have to have with them, because the next thing we're going to have to say is that there will be a no banners march if they're going anywhere near the tram line.' By Joseph Sullivan Local Democracy Reporter Like this: Like Related
Scotsman
3 days ago
- Politics
- Scotsman
Pro-Palestine march through Edinburgh to be re-routed to avoid banners touching tram lines
A pro-Palestine demonstration is set to be rerouted to avoid protesters getting close to the tram line, after an emergency shutdown of power lines was needed at a march over the weekend. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Police Scotland expressed concerns over the August 9 march after a demonstration on Saturday saw 'frantic calls' to get the power to the trams cut off over electrocution concerns. And they said that the rally had its route changed two days before it started, which added difficulty for them in policing it and led to road closures not being in place in time. A pro-Palestinian demonstration at the Mound in 2023. Picture: Lisa Ferguson. | LISA FERGUSON Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The August 9 march with an estimated 500 participants is set to be held on the same day as a major Orange walk, which is expected to see 1,500 participants descend on the city centre at the height of the Festival. The city's Licensing Sub-Committee on Monday considered two pro-Palestine demonstrations from the organisers of Saturday's march, with one set to run on August 2 and the other on August 9. Police sergeant Grant Robinson said: 'Our assessment was that serious safety issues were frankly ignored by participants and stewards. Many presented waving high flags and banners on approach to the Edinburgh Tram line. 'This resulted in an emergency shutdown of the overhead power cables, as if the flags or banners touched or came near these items, the electricity would have arced, causing serious injury or worse. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'It's essential that we have agreed routes with sufficient notice, so that safety measures can be put in place in advance, as this caused frantic calls between police and Edinburgh Trams to enable the shutdown.' A spokesperson for Edinburgh Trams confirmed that the power lines were shut down for 15 minutes on Saturday over safety concerns. Sergeant Robinson also said the 'number, ability and knowledge' of the protest stewards was concerning to the police service. He said Police Scotland was willing to arrange third-party free training sessions to 'upskill' stewards. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The organisers of the event were not present, having asked if the council sub-committee meeting could be delayed so they could attend. Council officers proposed that the routes of the pro-Palestine rally on the 2nd be swapped with one on the 9th, in order to space out the demonstrations happening on that day. Councillors elected not to swap the routes, but modified the route of the march on the 9th to keep it away from the Edinburgh Trams infrastructure. Liberal Democrat councillor Jack Caldwell asked if the organisers could be sanctioned for not attending the sub-committee meeting or for amending the routes of past demonstrations. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad A council officer replied: 'This is not a license application, notification of parades. There is no sanction for not attending committee. 'What the act simply says is that if the council makes an order, and the organiser departs from the terms of that order, that would potentially become a matter for Police Scotland, and would become a statutory offence under the act.' Sergeant Robinson said the police would only charge organisers as a last resort, continuing to say: 'We are very practical. We take an informed, reasonable approach. 'We're looking to engage, encourage, educate, before we really go down that route. I very much stress that we do not want to charge people for exercising their right [to protest], but it is a qualified right.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Addressing the request by council officers to swap the routes of the two marches, Conservative councillor and sub-committee convener Joanna Mowat said: 'I would be mindful not to alter their fundamental structure, as in, they want to go up to the American consulate. I don't know why they want to go on August 2, but that's not relevant for us. 'I would be minded, because we are going to have to do something on the 9th, which is quite a big change that we're going to have to make to their routes, that I wouldn't alter the dates. I think public safety have asked us to do that, but I'm not sure we have justification to do that.' For the march on the 9th, committee agreed a new route intended to keep protesters away from the trams, which would run from Waverley Bridge and up Market Street, turning left at the Mound. The previous route had an ambiguous staging area of the Mound itself, which could take protesters close to the tramway at the junction with Princes Street. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cllr Mowat said: 'They shouldn't be going anywhere near tram lines with their banners at that point. I mean, obviously that's going to be a conversation public safety are going to have to have with them, because the next thing we're going to have to say is that there will be a no banners march if they're going anywhere near the tram line.'
Scotsman
16-07-2025
- Business
- Scotsman
Edinburgh Tram losses hit £64m despite record-breaking passenger numbers
2024 was the seventh loss-making year in a row for the tram company. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Edinburgh Trams made a loss of almost £10 million in 2024, despite seeing a record-breaking number of passengers. Accounts show the trams recorded a net loss of £9,645,644 last year, bringing the total losses since opening to over £64m. This was the seventh loss-making year in a row. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh Tram on Princes Street. | Press Association This is despite the trams bringing in £28,815,444 in revenue after 'another landmark year' which saw passenger numbers exceed 12 million for the first time. Saturday 8 June, one of the days Taylor Swift was playing at Murrayfield, also saw the highest ever daily passenger numbers at 74,401. Over the three days of the Eras tour, over 250,000 passengers took the tram and all 27 trams were live for the first time ever, something the company says was a 'major accomplishment'. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad It is also the first full calendar year of the full line from Edinburgh Airport all the way to Newhaven, which saw passenger numbers increase by 31 per cent on 2023. A further 30,000 passengers used the tram to travel to the Royal Highland Centre and airport departures increased by 7 per cent to just over 1 million. Edinburgh Trams has not run a profit since 2017. In the years since, the service has made losses of £7.62m, £9m, £8.8m, £8.7m, £10.9m, £10.3m and now £9.6m. The trams have only made a profit twice since opening 10 years ago - £250,000 in 2016 and £1.6m in 2017. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Edinburgh City Council has charged the tram company an 'annual asset fee' of £8.5m since 2018 to 'reflect the additional borrowing costs associated with the cost overrun on the original line'. This comes to a total of £59.5m, meaning the losses since 2017 are largely attributable to this fee. Sue Webber, the Scottish Conservatives' transport spokeswoman and an MSP for the Lothians, said: 'These staggering losses will be a bitter pill to swallow for Edinburgh residents who were already hit with a final bill of over £1 billion for the tram project. 'Taxpayers were told this project would eventually pay for itself, but it is still continuing to bleed money. Sue Webber MSP | Screenshot 'With record passenger numbers, it is deeply alarming that Edinburgh Trams lost almost £10m last year. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'SNP politicians who were at the forefront of this sorry saga as well as Labour councillors in control of the capital cannot pass the buck, especially when they continue to champion the trams. 'Both parties must explain why taxpayers are still footing the bill for a project that should be turning a profit by now.' Stephen Jenkinson, convener of transport and environment at Edinburgh Council, told The Scotsman the trams have brought value to the city beyond profits. He said the service offers some of the cheapest fares in the country, and the team won UK transport operator of the year at the National Transport Awards 2024. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Mr Jenkinson said: 'Our aim is to improve connectivity and encourage a shift away from private car use to more sustainable transport options. 'The successful completion of the line to Newhaven in 2023 has already brought significant economic, social and environmental benefits to Leith, north Edinburgh and to the city as a whole. Edinburgh Tram | Lisa Ferguson/National World 'The new developments and businesses we see along the route are key to our city's shared prosperity, as are the wider benefits of cleaner air, emphasis on active travel and progress on addressing the climate and housing emergencies.' Mr Jenkinson added the council is now looking to expand the tram network further and next month will launch a consultation on a north-south tram line between Granton and Edinburgh Royal Infirmary. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He added: 'This development is key if we're going to deal with the challenges of our growing city and wider region in future years.
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- Yahoo
Edinburgh Princes Street locked down by police as forensic tent and cordon erected
Edinburgh's Princes Street has been locked down by police amid an ongoing incident on Wednesday morning. A large area of the major street has been cordoned off and a forensic tent has been erected on June 25. Locals and commuters were made aware of the incident around 7am. A huge number of police and ambulance vehicles are in attendance as emergency services swarm the scene. READ MORE: Edinburgh emergency services shut key West End road as bus seen with 'hole in side' READ MORE: Major Edinburgh road reopens after emergency incident as bus services resume An area of the street, near Uniqlo, has been taped off. One concerned passer-by said: "Police incident on Princes Street at the foot of the mound. Princes Street closed east bound." A number of Lothian Bus services have been diverted and Edinburgh Trams have alerted passengers too. Key bus services including the 3, 34, 44 and 25 have been impacted. A statement for Lothian Buses reads: "Due to a road closure buses are unable to serve part of Princes Street and are instead diverted via Frederick Street, George Street and South St David Street eastbound until further notice." Edinburgh Trams also warned commuters and said: "Due to a police incident, Princes Street is closed. We are part route between West End and Edinburgh Airport in both directions. "Ticket acceptance is in place with @on_lothianbuses". Police Scotland have been approached for comment. We'll bring you more on this breaking news story as it happens. In the meantime, you can follow us on Facebook, Instagram and X . Join Edinburgh Live's Whatsapp Community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages.
