Andrew Cronie, Manager, The Gyle Shopping Centre

Andrew Cronie, Manager, The Gyle Shopping Centre was warmly welcomed by the meeting and thanked for the continued support he gives to our Club at the Gyle Centre for our charity fundraising.

Andrew gave the meeting a brief history of the Gyle Centre from concept and opening in 1993 to 2007 when Andrew was appointed manager. He recalled that within two days of taking up his new post he received an email from a Mr Andrew Howard of Currie Balerno Rotary Club expressing the hope that the close relationship that existed between the Club and the previous Gyle management would continue under the new management !

Some impressive numbers were presented about the Gyle Shopping Centre  -

Site Area  50 acres        Lettable space  400,000 sq.ft.       Annual footfall  11.5 million+      Population within 30 min. drive  826,000      Car park spaces  2800

Andrew candidly outlined the positives and negatives currently facing the Gyle Centre. On the plus side he listed  -  The new Edinburgh tram system bringing customers, the new Edinburgh Gateway train/tram development at Gogar  due to open in 2016,  the closure of the St James Centre for redevelopment 2015 to 2019, the proposed expansion to accommodate Primark and additional retailers and businesses.

On the negative side he listed  - the lack of some categories of retail outlets e.g. Sports Equipment/Clothing, the absence of a 'night-time' economy after retail closing times, and the reopening of St James Centre in 2019 as competition. Andrew showed us that the Gyle Centre management support many local charities and community projects - Cash for Kids, Christmas Parade, Sick Kids Foundation and run school field trips and the Book Bug event. They run a weightwatchers club and support  the 'Gyle Mile' with Gyle Road Runners.

Andrew responded to questions from members on demographics and online shopping and was also happy to assure the meeting that that the Gyle Centre had no plans to introduce car park charges in the foreseeable future. This reassurance was received with much relief by the members !

Bill Strang gave the vote of thanks on behalf of the Club.

Report by Jim Douglas