Elected members on the Transport & Environment Committee today voted 9:2 to keep St James Square for pedestrians only.
The two members who voted to back the W Hotel's request for limited access to the front of its premises by a limited number of strictly controlled taxis and minibuses entering via Elder Street were Councillors Whyte and Munro (Con).
Vehicular access will still be possible via the underground car park at the rear.
Our account of Edinburgh's first purpose-built, permanent exhibition space on Annandale Street continues in early 1924.
On 2 January, a record crowd of 26,500 people attended the World's Fair and Carnival in the Industrial Hall (today's Lothian Buses depot) over the course of one day.
The following account is from the Scotsman, 3 January 1924..
A recent trip to London was enhanced by Siobhan Wall’s Quiet London, which details peaceful nooks in the metropolis. An Edinburgh version of the book seems a faintly absurd idea given that much of the city is sedate by the standards of most major cities.
Pedestrians: Beware of passing this vehicle on the inside.
Tables and chairs exacerbate the problem.
One week ago, we began this series with a brief history of how vacant land on Annandale Street came to be converted into the capital's first purpose-built exhibition space.
As reported in Issue 342, a commemorative red wheel has recently been attached to the boundary wall of the Lothian Buses depot on Annandale Street. It marks the importance of the site in Scotland’s transport history since 1926.
Spurtle has been following the lack of obvious progress in completing refurbishment of the Powderhall Stables as artist studios, micro offices, and public meeting space. We’ve also been interested in the stalled development of mixed senior housing and nursery on the former bowling-green site adjacent.
As you read this, advance copies of the August Spurtle are already spreading across Broughton like Fringe-goers seeking somewhere to sit down without a comedian standing up in it.
Page 1 starts with old news and fond hopes and the benefit of hindsight. From a seat we move to a bench, from a bench to a bucket, and from bucket to barrier.
Fantastic flowers follow on Page 2, as do welcome new safety features, park publication plans, thoughts on congestion and worrying news for dogs.