Tram works blamed for sudden closure of Edinburgh Wetherspoons pub

A damaged pipe caused a sewage leak

Foot of the Walk, Leith, Edinburgh
Author: Paul ReillyPublished 29th Sep 2023
Last updated 29th Sep 2023

Wetherspoons says The Foot of the Walk pub in Leith is closed until "further notice" after a sewage leak under the building.

Bosses believe a pipe was damaged during building works for the Edinburgh tramline extension.

The business was forced to shut on Thursday at 9pm due to an "emergency".

"Scottish Water slow in resolving issue"

A spokesperson for the JD Wetherspoon pub has said: "Unfortunately, this closure is due to circumstances out with our control as the pipe is the responsibility of Scottish Water who have been slow at resolving the issue.

"Apparently the sewer pipe under the building was damaged by building works when installing the tramline extension on the street".

Scottish Water has said it is working to resolve a 'complex issue' and will carry out an investigation to find out what may have caused the damage.

A Scottish Water spokesperson said; “Scottish Water is working to resolve a complex issue with a collapsed sewer which runs beneath the tramway on Leith Walk and is affecting a nearby business property.

"We have been liaising with Edinburgh Trams and have engaged specialist contractors to develop a safe way of carrying out the works as soon as possible.

"While this preparatory work takes place, we have been tankering waste water away from the site to try and maintain the waste water service.

"Our priority is to repair the sewer and only once this is done can we attempt to establish what may have caused the damage.”

Edinburgh Trams has declined to comment while Scottish Water investigates the issue.

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