Breaking news

CITY MOVES TO EASE LIVE-MUSIC RESTRICTIONS 

Proposed changes to licensing policy that would ease the sound restrictions on live music venues in Edinburgh are headed for their first hearing in March, reports Lisa Rogers.

City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) is responding to demands made by musicians and venue managers 14 months ago to relax the strict regulations that insist music must be 'inaudible' outside the venue.

Many in the music community think this stipulation has forced small music venues to close across the city.

LEITH STREET – FIRST CHANGE OF MANY? 

Planning permission has been granted to change the use of empty premises at 45–7 Leith Street from Class 4 (office) to Classes 1 (Retail), 2 (Financial, Professional and other services), and/or 3 (Food and Drink). It forms part of the building marketed as the Cube.

EDINBURGH'S YOUNG MENFOLK LEAVE LOT TO BE DESIRED 

Last week, we considered fashion, fripperies,  and young ladies' changing education in late 18th-century Edinburgh (Breaking news, 17.2.16).

This week, we look at a concurrent and deplorable turn for the worse in young gentlemen's behaviour. The extracts below, from The Statistical Account of Scotland 1791–1799, are very slightly out of their original order to preserve narrative clarity. 

The new Community Cinema in the middle of Broughton continues this coming Friday with two screeenings aimed at children and families in the afternoon, and adults in the evening. 

POLICE SEEK WITNESSES AFTER DRIVER FAILS TO STOP 

After a road traffic collision on Thursday 18 February between a cyclist and a white Transit van, Police Scotland are appealing for witnesses. 

The incident on Rodney Street happened at around 5.20pm, and left the female cyclist with minor injuries. She was taken to hospital. 

The Transit driver did not stop at the scene.

One of this Spurtle correspondent’s favourite places outwith Broughton is the Edinburgh Central Library on George IV Bridge. 

And one of the things he likes most about the place is that it’s not on George IV Bridge at all but on the Cowgate, four storeys and many miles below. 

On a visit there earlier this week he had occasion to visit the bowels of the building in response to a call of nature.

EFFICIENT INSTITUTION EXCELS 

Broughton’s back garden has received a ringing endorsement from top-level experts appointed by the Scottish Government to review its operations.

A six-strong international Visiting Group comprising academics, scientists, educationists and a museologist inspected the Garden’s operations – past, present and future – in September 2015.

FASHION, FRIPPERIES, AND YOUNG LADIES' CHANGING EDUCATION 

In the Statistical Account of Scotland’s section on Edinburgh, there appear many gleanings from letters addressed to the original editor, Sir John Sinclair, in 1793. 

Parts of these are of great interest to economists and historians, others to the idly curious like Spurtle. 

The following extracts are reproduced unedited and in full: 

     In 1763 — There was no such profession known as a Haberdasher.

I arrived home yesterday evening to find a box of roses on the doorstep. Not the chocolate kind, the flower kind. Apparently they come in boxes as well as bunches and they are delivered by couriers who leave them under doormats. 

There are exciting times ahead as we prepare for our first ever Diversity Evening celebrations on 10 March writes Drummond CHS headteacher Sue Cook. 

Our International Marketplace and workshops will run from 5.00– 7.30pm and will feature foods and goods from around the world. Plan on selecting your tea from Indian, Chinese and Fair-Trade foods which will be on sale, and purchase gifts from the many other marketplace stalls selling jewellery, art, etc.