An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.
COMMUNITY APP TO FIX ROADS
Cyclists and motorists could soon enjoy smoother journeys across Edinburgh thanks to a bespoke pothole-repair app going live tomorrow.
UberHole is the brainchild of Broughton-based entrepreneur Bernard Dintman, who spots a gap in the market now that cash-strapped councils struggle to maintain roads across Scotland to acceptable standards.
As you read this, the April issue of your local stirrer has been printed, folded, cardboard-boxed and divvied up among our crack team of local distribution operatives.
Unfortunately, owing to inexplicable Government and Church failures to adjust the date of Easter around our wholly predictable production schedule, not all copies will be available in all the usual outlets by the first of the month.
PUBLIC LIFE STREET ASSESSMENT IDENTIFIES PROBLEMS AND OPPORTUNITIES
As first reported in Issue 269, the Council is looking carefully at how to redesign George Street and the First New Town (Hanover, Frederick and Castle Streets) ‘with a people friendly, walkable, public life focus’.
CREATIVE SPACE AND NEW HOMES IN THE OFFING
The Council is considering the creation of a ‘workspaces and community space’ in the B-listed former stables and offices at 165 Broughton Road.
Artists’ studios and micro-enterprise offices could be leased out upstairs with flexible function space and other uses available on the ground floor. Attic and lower-ground-floor areas could be dedicated to ‘higher-value uses’.
The world may be falling apart about our ears, but some people are trying to stick it together again one piece at a time.
Spurtle’s unusual optimism has been prompted by the appearance of at least two intricately tessellated designs in Broughton.
The first was spotted on Monday, situated low down on the western wall of the Rodney Street Tunnel. We estimate the flowering poppies (?) comprise around 500 individual pieces, and the work seems to serve no other purpose than to bring colour and delight into the dark.
In that, it succeeds admirably.
ADVERTISING GIANT RETURNS WITH NEW DIGITAL DISPLAYS
JCDecaux and its controversial adverts are back.
Readers will recall the French-based multinational’s unsuccessful efforts to brighten-up George Street and St Andrew Square back in 2016 (27.10.16).
MORE DETAIL TO COME ON ARM'S-LENGTH MANAGEMENT OF NEW BANDSTAND VENUE
Councillors yesterday took a first step towards transferring certain management functions in West Princes Street Gardens to an arms-length external organisation.
The second ‘Community Consultation Event’ showcasing plans for a new concert hall behind Dundas House was held on 15 March in RBS premises on St Andrew Square.
Caroline Roussot reports on The Impact Centre proposals for the Spurtle.
A significant milestone has been reached in drawing up the Final Business Case which councillors will use to decide whether or not to extend the tramway to Newhaven.
Four bidders (three of them joint ventures) have emerged from a ‘robust evaluation’ process and will now tender in mid-April for the Infrastructure and Systems contract to design and build the track, overhead line, stops, systems and road infrastructure and public realm.
The tendering process will last until late summer, and a decision on the Business Case will be taken in the autumn.
Residents on Perth Street and Henderson Row are objecting to a major new development by Edinburgh Academy (Ref. 18/0563/FUL; 18/0568/LBC).
The Academy means to extend its premises along the eastern boundary to the rear of the library and the Clerk Maxwell Science Centre.