An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.
Have you entered the Broughton Street raffle yet?
Promising great prizes (see the list below), tickets are available from 38 local traders at £1 a shot.
And all the money raised goes to three local charities: Waverley Care, the Rock Trust and the Yard.
What’s not to like?
Grab a fistful before the draw at the end of the month.
Traffic congestion along Leith Walk appears to be getting worse, even before Leith Street is closed for its underground upgrade.
A reader contacted Spurtle yesterday to report problems on Haddington Place, where:
… the pavement is being made very narrow by the number of workmen’s vans parked outside the new Costa café. Those silly men are being more and more ridiculously brave with their parking on this pavement, knowing perfectly well that no traffic warden will come round to give them tickets for these offences.
In Issue 264 (out from 1 July) we published John ‘Jackie’ Hogg’s photo, from 1935, of the Christy brothers in good voice during a children’s sing-song in the back-greens of Broughton Road.
Here we show it again for those who want a closer look.
Hogg sent us two other images which we now publish for the first time. They both date from 1940 and detail ‘Spitfire’ concerts held to raise money for the war effort.
As you read this, copies of July’s Spurtle will be hurtling from the presses like bathers from a stray turd in the shallows at Glenogle.
Page 1 of Issue 264 brings you not one, not two, not three, but SIX local stories bearing on world-shaking events here in Broughton – everything from piles to Panamas and the travails of community councillors faced by diverting models.
On page 2 there’s news of a horse, daylight robbery, and a crumbling old friend in the park. Parking and planning feature, as do bins and the Botanics’ problems with accurately describing the seasons.
David Sterratt, chair of Drummond Community High School Parent Council, writes:
Twins took the top awards at Drummond Community High School’s annual Celebration of Achievement, which also marked the end of headteacher Jodie Hannan’s first full year – and the end of school librarian Annie Scanlon’s 37th year at Drummond.
Changes
This 11-year-old local has been missing from the Gayfield Square/Leith Walk area for over a week now, and her unusual absence is causing alarm.
She is ginger with green eyes, a white bib and paws, and is of medium to large build.
She’s neutered but not chipped, and was not wearing a collar when she disappeared on 18 June.
Her people say she’s a friendly, indoor cat and that it’s unusual for her to wander from home.
If you find or spot Poppy, please contact 0797 2726659.
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Councillors today agreed a restructured system for committees.
The number of committees has been reduced by two, 'ensuring a more balanced share of reports between committees and reflecting the localities-based model of the Council following transformation'. In other words, they're trying to prevent officials and elected members in certain areas getting swamped.
Design concepts for a new bandstand and visitor centre in Princes Street Gardens are now on display at the City Art Centre until 30 July.
Submitted for judgement next month by a jury of eminent worthies appointed by the Ross Development Trust (RDT), the seven plans include a Duracell battery charger, a Bedouin encampment, a giant loo seat, a scalextrics track, and variations on the home of the Tellytubbies.
You can also see them here.
The 'Picnic in the Park' last Saturday was a great success.
Friends of Pilrig Park, who organised the event, laid on hot weather and were rewarded with a large turnout from locals.
Thanks to Sophie Brown for sharing these happy photos of a memorable day.
More images are available on the Friends' Facebook page here.
PUTTING SOME NAMES TO FACES
As the façade of the new John Lewis ‘infill’ building on Leith Street nears completion, we thought it might be useful to offer a little background detail.