Breaking news

The Leith Street pedestrian bridge between the former St James Centre and the Q-Park over the road was still in place this morning. 

It had been timetabled for removal between 1.00am and 8.00am today, but the set-up fell 2 hours behind schedule and had to be temporarily abandoned. 

A second attempt to cut and remove the bridge in a series of lifts will be made tonight, wind permitting, and the road between Calton Road and Waterloo Place will probably be closed again to pedestrians, cyclists and all other vehicles. 

When does autumn begin and end? 

The answer depends on whether you’re a meteorologist or an astronomer. 

Weather buffs divide up the year into 3-month quarters, with autumn starting on 1 September and finishing on 30 November. 

Astronomers’ preferred start date is the autumn equinox, when the hours of day and night are approximately equal. For technical reasons beyond the scope of this article, that date wobbles around a bit, but this year autumn will begin on 22 September and end on 21 December with the winter solstice.

 WHETHER YOU LIKE IT OR NOT 

Together for Edinburgh is the team behind the ‘regeneration’ of Edinburgh’s East End.* 

In a recent circular to Broughton addresses, they describe themselves as ‘looking at making improvements to Picardy Place and enhancing the eastern gateway to the city’.

 MISTAKEN IDENTITY AND MISSED OPPORTUNITIES? 

Essential Edinburgh have been granted permission to remove a Japanese cherry from St Andrew Square Gardens (Ref. 17/04090/TCO). 

Their reason for taking it down is that it’s ‘in decline’, and they undertake to replace it with another of the same species.

Measures for the temporary (44-week) closure of Leith Street are now in place, but the promised access for cyclists between Calton Road and Waterloo Place has disappointed some.

Back in March, the word was that developers had agreed to an on-road, two-way cycleway on the west side of Leith Street. It was, we understand, made perfectly clear to developers that the cycleway ‘must connect easily and safely to cycle provision at either end’.

'THE HEAVY OF YOUR BODY PARTS AND THE COOL AIR OF THE AIR CONDITION'  — REVIEW 

Before viewing Glasgow-based artist Ross Little’s film, one passes a tank in which jellyfish drift on invisible currents, illuminated in blue and pink.

These composite creatures, these ‘living transparencies’ travel the world without conscious direction, insubstantial, seaborne, vulnerable, venomous.

 COUNCILLORS VOTE TO GO AHEAD, GAIN MORE INFORMATION, AND TAKE FINAL DECISION NEXT AUTUMN

Grave warnings about pressing ahead with the tram extension came from local figures addressing the Transport and Environment Committee this afternoon. The special meeting was considering the updated Outline Business Case (OBC) for extension, and looking for the best way to proceed.

 INFRASTRUCTURE-LITE St ANDREW SQUARE WELCOMED 

In September's Spurtle (Issue 266, p.2), we reported that the New Town & Broughton Community Council was writing to Standard Life congratulating and thanking them for not cluttering St Andrew Square with Fringe shows this summer.

Today, we will report the Development Management Subcommittee (DMS) hearing on a revised proposal for the old Royal High School on Regent Road (Ref. 17/00588/FUL; 17/00587/LBC). 

Developers Duddingston House Properties and Urbanist Group seek planning consent for: 

It’s nearly September, and the new Spurtles are ripening on the vine in a printshop near you. 

Bursting with juicy interest, our luscious clusters contain news of locals in a spin, good causes, high stakes, and soggy bottoms not on the telly. 

You want Gardening tips? We got ‘em. Thinking of putting your foot in it? We give reasons not to.