An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.
In Issue 247 we reported that the newly rebuilt Botanic Cottage had been nominated in an annual architectural awards scheme run by the Georgian Society.
The structure was entered in the ‘Best Restoration of a Georgian Landscape or Garden’ category.
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.
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.
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.
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).
On Friday morning we published Neil Jones’s e-mail to the Council appealing for clarity and competence on East Claremont Street ('Too small, too few, too unclear').
The half-baked introduction of a recycling system at one end there had caused nothing but confusion.
With surprising speed, matters have now been partially sorted out.
Edmund Farrow, Treasurer of Drummond CHS Parent Council, attended a meeting held by City of Edinburgh Council to discuss budget plans and strategies with Parent Council representatives on 24 November 2015.
The article below is based on his report of the meeting, with additional material by David Sterratt, Chair of Drummond Parent Council.
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).
From the Scots Magazine of 18 November 1816:
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.