Breaking news

The journalistic Dundee cake which is Issue 205 has risen and browned nicely in the cooker of printing machinery, and will be served across Broughton from tomorrow.

It contains visions of loveliness, talented dancing, some good news – at last – for independent shops, and a local literary connection to a major bicentenary.

There is news on newels, Olympic athleticism, murals, Paolozzi, organic food and French-speaking babies, plus views on tree-felling and Spring tits. There are previews, notes for your diary and photographic evidence of simmering rivalry.

Broughton and 'Greater Spurtleshire' fall between three City of Edinburgh Council wards. Below are the candidates for the 3 May election, with photographs and links where available. If you are aware of better links, let us know and we'll update.

The Broughton Spurtle has no party-political (or Independent candidate) affiliation. These links are intended as background information. Their contents have not been verified by the Spurtle, and their appearance or not here reflects only the ease with which they could be found.

Broughton-based bassist Iain MacPhail and the band are in the Big Apple, the city that never sleeps or knowingly sells alcohol to under-21-year olds.

Concerns about the fairness of the Pre-Application Consultation (PAC) system have been raised by community council planning conveners attending a recent seminar run by their Edinburgh Association.

Spurtle understands that numerous problems concerning principle and procedure were raised with Nancy Jamieson, City of Edinburgh Council’s Principal Planner.

Two examples will serve. First, an objection from a community council is not given the weight it merits as the considered response of an organisation representing many locals. It counts only as one objection.

Interesting details have emerged as Turner Townsend seek prior approval for erection of a tramstop and associated street furniture at York Place (Ref 12/00915/PA). The work would also involve repositioning of two overhead line equipment (OLE) poles, revised kerb lines, repaving of footway, and relocation of bus shelters.

Local resident Hugh Lockhart is part of a group reviving the historic Edinburgh–St Andrews pilgrimage route this summer in an initiative which could, potentially, prove extremely beneficial to Broughton’s cafés, pubs, restaurants and hotels.

Spurtle will host two hustings this year in the run-up to the 3 May City of Edinburgh Council election.

The decision to increase the number of events comes in response to boundary changes which have seen Broughton more divided than before between Leith Walk and City Centre wards.

The events will take place at Broughton St Mary's Parish Church, Bellevue Crescent, from 7.00–9.15pm on:

David Sherry is a 38-year-old artist, originally from Newry in Northern Ireland, but later educated at the Glasgow School of Art and now resident in the West. He will be appearing at the Printmakers Gallery later this month.

Some of Sherry's best known work is his performance art in which he attempts to 'expose the systematic processes of day to day life'.

Seventeen-year-old Felix Kimathi is an aspiring journalist who visited Drummond in 2011 as part of the Drummond–Kenya Partnership scheme. In this, the second piece he has written for us (see Issue 204), he talks about life after school, and reveals that – in a period of economic hardship – there are surprising similarities between the experiences of disadvantaged young people in both the developed and developing worlds.

Sun's out. Sap's rising. Love's in the air. Cue music ...

The Drummond Big Band and No Strings Attached will be playing tomorrow evening (Friday) at Drummond Community High School.

The programme will include excerpts from Pick up the Pieces, Shrek 2 and Pirates of the Caribbean, and there'll be group sing-song opportunities for the unabashed and glad of heart.