ONE of the city's business leaders today welcomed a deal to provide compensation for traders hit by the West Port road closures.

Up to 50 businesses in the area that lost money following the partial collapse of the old Post Office building have been offered "goodwill" funds from the site's owners, Kenmore Properties.

The compensation deal, which could involve thousands of pounds, followed weeks of pressure from the Federation of Small Businesses. Ron Hewitt, chief executive of the Edinburgh Chamber of Commerce, said Kenmore's offer was "commendable".

"This gesture of goodwill reflects a readiness to listen to the concerns of the community, who have shown a great deal of patience and co-operation in the past month," he said.

"Kenmore's offer will go a long way to easing the pain suffered by the traders.

Kenmore's £20 million redevelopment will act as a catalyst to breathe new life into the area."