Breaking news

The Labour and Scottish National Parties have agreed to form the next coalition administration running City of Edinburgh Council, it was announced this morning.

Although intense negotiations to establish an all-party alliance broke down, the new coalition partners say they 'will work with other groups in the interests of the people of Edinburgh'.

'A Labour–SNP coalition will now provide the stability and certainty needed to move Edinburgh forward,' commented Labour Group leader Andrew Burns (right).

In the aftermath of the Council elections, a pothole in Bellevue Road has spoken out about being ignored by politicians.

'I'm devastated,' Phil McAverty told Spurtle's David Sterratt. 'It took a lot of effort to get to be three feet deep. I was fully expecting a queue of candidates wanting to have their photos taken with me, but not one did, not even a Lib Dem'.

Jenny Matthews – exhibiting with Janet Melrose this month at the Union Gallery – is fascinated by the forms and colours of flowers, which she depicts with often scientific attention to detail. The realism with which she renders light reflected from or diffused through leaves and petals has something of the botanist's unswerving focus, but is never merely observational or emotionally lifeless.

How does she manage this? To be honest, I'm not sure – but here are three suggestions.

The three wards comprising 'Spurtleshire' reflected city-wide trends as the results came in yesterday for the City of Edinburgh Council election.

There were gains in the City Centre for Labour's Karen Doran; and in Leith Walk, where a second Labour candidate – Nick Gardner – squeezed in at Round 11. In both cases, new Liberal Democrat candidates did not manage to step into the shoes of their elected predecessors. In both wards, incumbent candidates were returned comfortably in the first or second rounds.

In Issue 206 we highlighted alarm that changes to the rate of VAT payable on alterations to listed buildings would put historic structures in Edinburgh at risk.

Mark Lazarowicz, MP – one of several local figures who raised this issue  – has now received a response from the Treasury minister which appears below.

In brief, David Gauke, Exchequer Secretary to the Treasury, asserts that repairs to and maintenance of all buildings (including listed ones) have always been VAT liable and will remain so.

'Those who have packed far up into grizzly country know that the presence of even one grizzly on the land elevates the mountains, deepens the canyons, chills the winds, brightens the stars, darkens the forest, and quickens the pulse of all who enter it.'

So wrote the great Scottish/American ecologist John Muir.

But can the same be said of Eyre Place?

Can't see what we're on about? Look again at the detail below.

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The City of Edinburgh Council elections are being held today.

Polling stations opened at 7am, and will remain open until 10pm.

An updated phone app has been launched by Edinburgh World Heritage which now guides visitors and locals around the architectural marvels of Broughton Street.

Funded by the Council's Economic Development Department as part of its 'Build Stronger Town Centres' strategy, participants 'are invited to discover a contrast of gothic and classical architecture, including the stunning Mansfield Traquair Centre'.

One of the Planning conditions for Primark winning consent for its new shop at 91–3 Princes Street (Ref. 10/01123/FUL) was the provision of secure/covered cycle parking (see pdf at foot of page).

Spurtle reader Jonathan Finn lives nearby, but despite repeated attempts could not find any such cycle parking around the building on its completion.

Vodafone UK wants to instal 6 Vodafone and O2 antennae  within 4 replacement GRP chimney pots, with associated equipment to be located within an internal cupboard and ancillary development at The Royal Scots Club at 30 Abercromby Place (Ref. 12/01410/FUL; 12/1411/LBC).