Breaking news

Despite last year's poor summer and this year's long winter and wet spring having contributed to calamitous collapses in Britain's bee population, St Mark's Park is fair humming at the moment.

Spurtle was in contact yesterday with Kingsford Estates, the developer behind proposals for 154 McDonald Road. We invited them to respond to our press coverage, and to put their side of the argument regarding how conversion of the former high-school premises may affect Broughton Primary School next door.

The thunder of tiny feet shows no signs of abating locally, particularly now that the Edinburgh Nursery seeks to expand, again – this time at 119 Broughton Road (Ref. 13/02387/FUL). 

While walking through Rodney Street Tunnel, writes Jamaica Street Lane resident John MacDonald, I noticed that the new Council toilet was being fully utilised.

Unfortunately, cutbacks have prohibited the construction of privacy walls around the new facilities.

Proposals have now been submitted for the former Broughton Higher Grade School at 154 McDonald Road (Refs 13/02458/FUL; 13/02459/LBC).

Police seek witnesses following a serious assault on Broughton Road at the weekend.

A 31-year-old woman was attacked at around 1.30am on Sunday morning. After leaving the Taxi Club on Beaverhall Road, she intervened in an effort to calm an argument between a man and a woman outside.

Readers may remember Norrie Harman's uncompromising tour de force Way Out West at the Union Gallery last summer.

Many readers will probably have been puzzled by the words (shown right) permanently inked on a flagstone at the top of Broughton Street. They appear just below the steps leading up to the entrance of St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral, and read:

Broughton citizens are no doubt looking for handy alternatives to sun creams, wasp swatters and glare-resistant Kindles this summer. That search is over. The July issue of the Spurtle is out early across all parts of sizzling north-east central Edinburgh.

This is a perfect recipe for June, with tomatoes and rocket both bang in season right now.