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An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.

NO HOTEL FOR OLD ROYAL HIGH

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Edinburgh’s Development Management Sub-Committee today voted to accept the advice of its own officials and refused a planning application to redevelop the old Royal High School as a luxury 147-bedroom hotel (Ref. 15/03989/FUL). 

Developers Duddingston House Properties LLD and the Urbanist Group are now expected to appeal the decision.

VISION OF LOVELINESS

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Some months ago, a Specsavers brochure came through the letterbox. Nothing unusual, really (junk mail outweighs genuine mail these days), but there was something odd about this particular item. 

It seemed to have an artist’s impression of me on the front cover. 

Disturbed but equally intrigued, I decided I should pay Specsavers a visit to see why they are using my face to sell glasses. 

It turns out there isn’t a Specsavers in Broughton, but a glasses-related incident following the arrival of the brochure prompted me to get my eyes checked.

MORE QUESTIONS THAN ANSWERS

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Four artists with complementary interests are showing in a joint Whitespace exhibition on Howe Street until Friday.  

Three paintings by Joyce Gunn Cairns appear, of which this reviewer’s favourite was ‘Young Man’. 

It is a characteristically nuanced piece, making one wonder whether the subject’s weathered face is that of a young man prematurely aged, or an old man young at heart. 

PLANNING UPDATE

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THREE-YEAR MERRY GO ROUND ON PRINCES STREET / OLD ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL LATEST  

M&D Events seeks permission to erect a 12600mm-diameter traditional carousel ride with associated stands for dispensing ice cream, hot dogs and cold drinks on the roof terrrace of Princes Mall (Ref. 15/05426/FUL). 

IT'S STILL A GARAGE

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EAST SCOTLAND STREET LANE ENIGMA CANNOT BECOME AN OFFICE  

The Scottish Government’s Reporter has refused planning permission for the ‘lock-up garage’ on East Scotland Street Lane to be used instead as an office (Ref. PPA-230-2154).

TOO SMALL, TOO FEW, TOO UNCLEAR

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Dear waste@edinburgh.gov.uk   

As you may be aware, those of us who reside down the unfasionable east end of East Claremont Street are always cheered to receive correspondence from your good selves. So I’m sure you can imagine our delight when the most recent communiqué from your offices dropped through our letter boxes at the end of 2014 detailing the bin and recycling arrangements for the forthcoming year.