Breaking news

Edinburgh businessman Kamran Akbar has applied for permission to change the use of 4B Gayfield Place (accessed via Gayfield Place Lane) from office to guest house/B&B (Ref. 14/01197/FUL). 

If a group of 'far-sighted entrepreneurs' get their way today, the York Place tram stop may cease before it has even properly begun. 

Spurtle understands that a plan put before transport chiefs in December, and due for determination this morning, proposes re-naming the York Place stop 'Leith Gateway' when trams start operating in May.

Broughton Scouts found themselves locked-out of St Mary's RC Primary School again on Friday evening following yet more problems with Edinburgh Council's unreliable janitorial cover.

Officers at Gayfield Square Police Station could have been forgiven for thinking an unplanned protest was in progress on East London Street (actually, there was) as Scouts chanted their dissatisfaction: ‘Boo to Bungling Cooncil’.

April is so close you can almost wring the raindrops out of your nose hair.

This year, though, don’t bother buying galoshes and a new sou’wester. Bat off the spits with a spanking new Spurtle, out soon in two varieties of shower-resistant black and white.

City of Edinburgh Council has made a firm – if slightly surprising – defence of how it processed the 154 McDonald Road planning application.

Stall-holders at St Mary's Market on Broughton Street will show solidarity with one of their own by marking Epilepsy Awareness Day on Saturday.

Rachel Hanretty – Mademoiselle Macaron herself – has epilepsy and faces an operation later this year.

The Scottish Ministers’ Reporter issued his ‘notice of intention’ yesterday, finding in favour of Kingsford Developments' appeal against City of Edinburgh Council’s non-determination of its planning application (Breaking news, 25.3.14; 13/02458; PPA-230-2109).

Kingsford Developments have effectively won their appeal to develop 154 McDonald Rd as flats.

Campaigners against the plan have reacted with consternation and bitter disappointment. ‘To say we’re gutted is an understatement,’ says Sandra Bagnall.

Local stakeholders met City of Edinburgh Council officials on 19 March to discuss the trial partial pedestrianisation of George Street later this year (Issue 227; Breaking news, 7.3.14)

Enjoying the sunshine in St Mark's Park today was this mallard, who was having some shut-eye when we photographed him beside the Water of Leith.

Or, more accurately, open-and-shut-eye as he was understandably reluctant to nod off completely whilst being papped.