LibDems call for Princes Street fire aid as businesses dealt ‘heavy blow’

The Scottish Liberal Democrats have said the Princes Street fire has dealt a “heavy blow” to businesses as they called for a Scottish Government support package.Scottish Liberal Democrat MSP for Edinburgh Northern Sanne Dijkstra-Downie has written to the First Minister calling on the Scottish Government to deliver funding to help the council and businesses following the Princes Street fire.In her letter she highlights the £10 million support package that was allocated for the Glasgow Union Corner fire.She wrote: “The Princes Street fire has been widely compared to that which destroyed Glasgow’s Union Corner in March. In the wake of that fire, the Scottish Government provided a financial package worth up to £10 million to help Glasgow City Council, businesses and agencies ‘rebuild and renew’ the affected area of the city.Edinburgh Northern MSP Sanne Dijkstra-Downie (left) called for government aid (Jane Barlow/PA)PA Wire“Indeed, within a week of the Glasgow Union Corner fire breaking out, the Scottish Government announced this financial package. The response was extremely swift. Three weeks on from the Princess Street fire, no similar or equivalent package of support has been offered from your government.”The fire on Princes Street broke out on July 9 in the old Debenhams department store and gutted much of the building, causing significant disruption across Edinburgh.A portion of Princes Street remains closed off to public due to safety concerns while tram services have been suspended between the city centre to Leith and Newhaven.Ms Dijkstra-Downie is calling for a support package ahead of Edinburgh’s festival season starting on August 7.She said: “The Princes Street fire has dealt a heavy blow to businesses across the city, including for those as far away as Leith and Newhaven.“To make matters worse, there seems to be no help incoming from the government. Neither the First Minister nor his government have even bothered to share any updates or information on social media about it.“The council are trying their very best, and they can only reopen Princes Street and tram services when it’s safe to do so, but they need to be properly supported, just as the council and businesses in Glasgow were following the Union Corner fire.Read More“We are just days away from the festival beginning, one of the most important seasons for businesses and venues across the capital.“The Scottish Government must urgently support the council and businesses in getting back on their feet and seizing the opportunities of the busy weeks ahead.”The Scottish Government have been approached for comment.