Breaking news

The branch of Margiotta’s on the corner of 71 Northumberland Street and Howe Street will close for the last time this weekend. 

The independent convenience store has been there for over 20 years, but falling sales, particularly since the arrival of the Sainsbury’s Local over the road in 2012, made this decision inevitable. 

There will be no job losses, a spokesperson told us this afternoon, as all staff  will be reassigned to head office or one of the remaining six branches across the capital.

Lidl seek permission for a small constellation of signs.

To be precise, they want five internally illuminated fascia displays attached to the building cladding, and one free-standing stainless steel illuminated poster display unit, at the rapidly developing 17 Logie Green Road (Ref. 15/00706/ADV). 

The March printed edition of Broughton's independent stirrer hits the streets today.

Vastly delayed by thick snow, late-breaking news, and the wrong kind of month (February), it will be delivered to every corner of the barony from dawn onwards by Spurtle’s crack team of ninja Nordic skiers in figure-hugging black lycra.

On a recent visit to the Scottish National Gallery, I came across a painting that I’d never seen before, writes Rhys Fullerton.

That’s not surprising as their collection is vast and often paintings have been on loan or in storage and haven’t been on display for some time. It’s possible that I’d seen it before and just didn’t really register it, but on this particular day it caught my eye. 

I’m standing on the traffic island at Mansfield Place having just crossed the first half of the road. But I can go no further. My fellow castaway is in the same position. 

Why? Because we are both refusing to push the button to enable us to cross. 

Not because we’re idiots who like to stand on the edge of the road waiting for someone to do it for us, but because we’re the exact opposite.

Here’s what happened.

Concerning the recent article (Breaking news, 21.2.15) and reader’s letter ('Bins, Blazing, Boxes', 23.2.15) about recycling in Bellevue, writes Environment Convener Leslie Hinds, I am delighted that residents in the Hillside and Bellevue area have the opportunity to recycle

If you’re thinking of travelling to faraway parts next week, be aware that new Leith Walk parking arrangements just north of Pilrig Street are being phased-in from Monday.

These affect unloading and loading, and customer parking for up to an hour.

Officials will adopt a softly softly approach to those who misunderstand the new system next week. But from  Monday 9 March transgressors can expect to feel the full weight of the law.

BT Telecoms are trying to connect parts of Hillside with the 21st century.

They have applied for planning permission to install a cabinet on the pavement outside 44 Montgomery Street, thus providing superfast fibre-optic Broadband to the area for the first time (Ref. 15/00483/FUL). 

Plans to develop the old Royal High School are ‘the architectural equivalent of drawing Mickey Mouse ears and a moustache on the Mona Lisa’.

So said one critic at last night ‘s meeting to discuss the ‘iconic’ building’s history, significance and future.

On Thursday 19 February, I toured the new recycling arrangements in the Bellevue/Melgund area,writes Fred Street of the New Town Clean Streets Campaign. 

Here are the results of that survey.

The contents of every bin except one were significantly contaminated with waste which should not have been in there – whether cardboard in a blue-topped paper bin, or food, glass bottles, black sacks, builders' rubble in the new 'mixed recycling' bins.