EDINBURGH'S PRINCES STREET REOPENS AFTER SEVEN-WEEK FIRE CLOSURE

Edinburgh's Princes Street is to reopen on Saturday, seven weeks after a major fire shut the thoroughfare following a blaze in a former department store on 9 July. The reopening comes two days before the final day of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. Bus routes that were diverted during the closure will resume normal operation, and tram services, which operated only in the west of the city during the closure, will return to full service across the route.

Businesses along the street reported significant losses during the closure, which coincided with the usually-lucrative festival season. According to one account, reduced public transport and diverted bus routes led to decreased footfall in the area. The Scottish government committed £5m to support business recovery. One business owner said the disruption had been particularly damaging given the timing, describing the period as "our busiest time of year that gets us through the quieter months from January to March". Another business representative criticised the level of communication from Edinburgh council during the closure, describing it as "radio silence".

Edinburgh council leader Jane Meagher said she was delighted the thoroughfare was reopening and acknowledged the period had been difficult for the city. Some business owners expressed relief at the prospect of restored tram services, which were expected to bring regular customer traffic. However, uncertainty remained about the full financial impact on businesses, with some operators stating it was too early to assess total losses from the extended closure.