Luxury nursery fails after boss takes “inappropriate” salary

By Rory Reynolds

A LUXURY nursery business has failed after its boss paid herself an “inappropriate” salary, according to liquidators assessing the firm.

Prime Time Nurseries in Edinburgh – run by former fund manager Monica Langa – was put into liquidation by HM Revenue & Customs after owing hundreds of thousands of pounds in tax and bank loans.

Nursery boss Langa has denied claims she took too large a salary and blamed her bank for her financial problems.

The business, which is still open and seeking a new owner, had recently unveiled ambitious plans for a “super nursery” to house 120 children at the Maxim business park off the M8 in Lanarkshire, despite crippling debts.

The £228 per week nursery houses the children of the wealthiest lawyers and executives in Edinburgh, and is based in a Grade A-listed Georgian townhouse on Queen Street, overlooking the city’s prosperous New Town.

Princes Street value plunges by 10%

By Rory Reynolds

ONE of Scotland’s major high streets has seen its value drop by a whopping ten per-cent due to a massive road works project, coupled with the recession.

The average yearly rent on Princes Street in Edinburgh fell by 10.6 per cent over the last 12 months, while Glasgow’s Buchanan Street fell just three per cent.

The value of the main street – which includes Jenners department store and the five-star Balmoral Hotel as tenants – has fallen rapidly, while Buchanan Street broke into the UK’s top ten for street value.

The slump was blamed on the large-scale tram works programme leaving the capital’s city centre congested.

As a result, several big discount firms are set to move into the historic street, home of the world famous Hogmanay party.

Council back troubled tram operator

By Rory Reynolds

EDINBURGH’S transport nightmare may be eased after the City Council backed TIE – the firm tasked with bringing about the troubled city trams.

Today the council unanimously backed the transport firm in its efforts to finish the huge project after severe delays and costs spiralling out of control.

Last week TIE entered into formal talks with the Bilfinger Siemens CAF consortium to review the costs of the tram project and assess the main risks remaining.

Councillor Gordon Mackenzie, Convener of Transport Committee, said: “We are delighted that all parties in the council have united to support TIE in this process.

£250,000 to keep trucks on stand-by

By Michael MacLeod

ROAD bosses have splashed out a whopping £250,000 to keep two tow trucks on stand-by during roadworks.

The two vehicles have sat fenced off on a roadside at a cost of £5,830 per-week since February throughout Edinburgh’s tram project development.

Tram chiefs TIE claimed the recovery vehicles have been used “many many times,” and the capital’s council defended their deployment as a “prudent measure.”

But critics asked them to justify the cost, saying the public would bring them under “extreme scrutiny.”

Tram birthplace on track for £2million sale

By Michael MacLeod

THE site of Scotland’s first permanent electric tramway is up for sale for more than £1.8million.

The Carstairs Mains estate in Lanarkshire became a hive of activity 121 years ago after MP Henry Monteith dreamed up a tram system.

His grandson made the historic link for construction workers building a major new junction on the Caledonian Railway.

But the tram system, which managed to clock 35mph, was scrapped after a suspected fatal accident.

Remnants of the unique railway can still be seen at the farm – a far cry from the technological advances of Scotland’s current tram development in Edinburgh.

Trambassadors to talk-up worksite Edinburgh

By Michael MacLeod

HATED traffic wardens are being turned into city “trambassadors” during Edinburgh’s festival season to explain to tourists why the road works are so bad.

Already among the most loathed workers in the capital streets, now parking enforcers and litter meanies are to “talk up” the capital.

Roadworks for the city’s tram network are such a permanent feature that they’ll even be dishing out special new maps including all the obstacles.

Intensive digging will continue right through the world famous cultural event because the tram project is lagging behind schedule.

Life-size replica of Edinburgh tram finds new home in Leith

By Oliver Farrimond

A LIFE-SIZE replica of Edinburgh’s controversial tram system was lowered into place in the Capital’s busy Leith Walk area yesterday.

The 15m mock-up, which was moved from its previous home on Princes Street, is expected to show local residents and businesses how the tram can run in narrow streets.

However local business leaders expressed scepticism about the project, which has been at the centre of an angry dispute between contractors and council bosses for much of the year.

Alan Rudland from the Leith Business Association said that the association had asked for the tram to be brought down from Princes Street after seeing the popularity of the mock-up.

Mr Rudland, 43, said: “The Princes Street tram had more than 70,000 visitors, and we’re keen to see the effect this will have on businesses in Leith.

“However I remain unconvinced about the project – people will get used to them but we’re concerned that they will cause a lot of problems for local businesses.

Bus company auction off old stock

By Alexander Lawrie

EVER fancied packing your bags and heading off on holiday with over 80 of your friends and family?

Well now is your chance as Lothian Buses have decided to auction off their unwanted, old double deckers to the public for the very first time.

Twenty buses are currently for sale through an online auction house as Lothian makes space for 40 brand new vehicles to add to its 700-strong fleet.

The company’s surplus buses are usually offered for sale to existing companies, but this is the first time it has offered its old vehicles to the general public.

Ten 81-seat double-deckers are being sold for as little as £2000, while ten newer 42-seat single-deckers will set buyers back only £9000.

Web-based industrial auctioneers Sweeney Kincaid have been appointed to market the unusual sale.

Bill Devlin, Lothian Buses engineering director, said it was an exciting move opening up “another sales channel” for the surplus fleet.

Despite the recession, the auction company has seen the number of buyers taking part in its online auctions treble, with sales doubling in the last six months.

Russell Kincaid, managing director of Sweeney Kincaid, said: “We’re delighted that Lothian Buses has chosen us to help them sell surplus assets while they add new vehicles to their fleet.

“We’re definitely benefiting as businesses look for more efficient methods of shifting surplus assets.”

The double and single-decker buses are between nine and 20 years old and according to Mr Kincaid are in immaculate condition and have been maintained to the highest of standards.

The auction will run until next Thursday, with successful bidders having to collect their new buses from storage in Edinburgh.

But it is not just the individual traveller who will be interested in the auction as other industries have adopted them over the past few years.

Buses are regularly converted into information centres, libraries, museums, cafes and even homes.

And in recent years there has been a huge surge in the popularity of ‘party-buses’ which cater for stag, hen and birthday parties.

Ironically, Edinburgh’s beleaguered tram bosses are planning on using a bus to tour the city’s schools to promote their controversial scheme.

Tram work uncovers wartime simulator 119

by Alexander Lawrie 

A WWII flight simulator has been discovered lying abandoned in a hut due to be demolished to make way for a city tram system.

Officials from Transport Initiatives Edinburgh (TIE) found the historic machine after buying the land from the Air Training Corps.

The 60-year-old simulator is believed to have been used to train cadets for battle during the last World War.

It will now be moved to the Montrose Air Station Heritage Centre where it will go on display to the general public.

The land where the simulator was stored in is in the west of the city, close to the Edinburgh Airport, and had been kept in the premises used by the 287 (Stenhouse) Squadron of the Air Training Corps.

The C-8 Instrument Flying and Landing Trainer is still in complete working condition, save for a few adjustments to the large valves.

It is thought to be only the third of its kind ever discovered in Scotland, and was developed by the RAF as an alternative to ‘blind training’ pilots, where the pilots would fly planes while wearing a hood.

During WWII, the simulator was also used to teach all phases of elementary and advanced instrument flying, including radio navigation, instrument landing systems and voice procedure.

Jon Monk, a project manager with TIE, the council-funded body responsible for the new tram system, admitted they had no idea the simulator was in the hut when they acquired the land.

He said: “When we acquired the ATC building we were not expecting to find something of such historical significance, so it was exciting to find the flight simulator.

“I believe it is one of a very small number of WW2 flight simulators left in Scotland and what makes it even rarer is its excellent condition.

“I am glad that we are able to help the ATC preserve the device and move it to its new home in Montrose, where it will eventually go on display to the public to be enjoyed by generations to come.”

The one and a half ton simulator is currently being dismantled and will be stored at the Air Corps base at Kirknewton, West Lothian, before eventually being moved to its new home in Montrose.

Flt Lt Frank Wielbo, of the Air Training Corps, said: “The simulator was discovered after the building was sold on to make way for the new tram system in Edinburgh.

“It looks like the simulator was made around 1940 and we still have the complete original manual to refer to. It’s a wonderful piece of machinery, and is still in very, very good condition.

“It is almost completely intact apart from a few valves and the plotting table, but they should be easily fixable.

“Hopefully in time everyone will be able to go and see the simulator in full working order.”