ONE of Scotland’s busiest shopping streets appears to have undergone a sex change – after bungling tram bosses added and extra “s” to a road sign.
Princes Street – arguably one of Edinburgh’s most popular streets – has been renamed “Princess Street” on a sign notifying drivers that the area is restricted.
The notice, which has been placed on Frederick Street, reads: “Entry to Princess Street restricted”.
Harry Watson, 64, from Barnton, passes the sign every day as he travels on the bus and said he has to grit his teeth whenever he sees the gender-error.
He said: “It’s been there for a few months and I guess some people might not have spotted it.
“Those that have probably groaned and rolled their eyes, then forgot about it.
“I have emailed to point it out, but I’ve had no response yet.”
The street’s identity crisis should have been corrected three weeks ago as workers were apparently told to take the sign down.
Local business owners have blasted tram firm TIE for the mistake, after churning up the street and closing it for over ten months.
One worker from a nearby business, who asked not to be named, said: “How are they going to handle this grossly delayed and hugely overpriced project if they can’t even spell the name of the street they have worked on for months and months?
“You could say that’s a sign of how incompetent some people working on the project are.”
Steve Cardownie, SNP deputy leader of the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “You couldn’t make it up.
“One of the most famous, iconic streets in the world, known throughout China, America, Australia, you name it, and it is not known properly to TIE.
“It’s ironic that the only place with tram tracks laid down sees the mistake.
“They’ll make light of it, but it shows an astounding lack of attention to detail.
“Maybe by the time this project is up and running Princes Street will have changed to Princess Street.”
In October 2008, bosses at TIE were left red-faced when they added an extra “n” to a sign which read: “no access via Hannover Street”, and two months before that contractors working for the firm painted a new speed limit sign the round way round.
A spokesman for TIE said: “The signage will of course be amended.”
