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Dear Mr Rennie,

I am writing to you to complain in the most vigorous way regarding what appears to be a fait accompli regarding the planning application for 28 Howe Street.

... That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all ...

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[Broughton-based 'souped-up ceilidh band' Whisky Kiss play to packed venue at T in the Park, Summer 2011]

The water level was rising and a strong, very fast current muscled its way down the Water of Leith in Broughton this lunchtime. Despite alarming appearances, SEPA had issued no flood warnings for Warriston or Bonnington by 3.30pm today.

Driving rain and horizontal hailstones eventually disabled the Spurtle camera and ruined the Spurtle espadrilles, but not before we had heroically captured these shots.

The photo right was taken from the Warriston Road bridge, and shows the contractors' raised access road completely swamped.

Local campaigners from Leith and east Edinburgh will meet to discuss Council privatisation of certain public services, writes campaigner Alyson Macdonald.

The public event – to which councillors and a speaker from Unison have been invited – is scheduled for 7pm on Tuesday13 December at Meadowbank Arts Complex (see map below). All are welcome to attend.

But when they had enter'd the city so fair,

A number of people so mighty was there ...

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[The cast move off from assembly on Dundas Street, August 2011]

Staff at the Canonmills Launderette on Huntley Street have been amazed by the number of people entering the premises since they put up a new sign outside.

Unfortunately, these are not eager new customers but disgruntled locals keen to point out not one but two egregious mistakes in Cannon Mills.

AND it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all the world went to be taxed, every one into his own city.

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[HM Revenue and Customs, 44 York Place]

Despite at least 37 letters of objection, City Planners will recommend that the Planning Subcommittee approve revised plans for a Sainsbury store at 28 Howe Street on 7 December (Ref. 11/02842/FUL).

The report by John Bury, Head of Planning, can be read by clicking on the pdf at the foot of this page. In it he concludes that:

Readers with an historical bent may be interested in viewing the painting linked here. Reader John MacDonald has rediscovered it in the the newly refurbished Scottish National Portrait Gallery in Queen Street.

'I had seen a black-and-white copy of this picture before,' MacDonald told us, 'but it was nice to come across the original in the gallery. 

The Portobello and Leith Community Wind Energy Project has won – just – in its Energyshare.com contest category, and will receive £80,000 funding.

The money will allow completion of further feasibility research into a scheme to build a wind turbine at Seafield. It is now expected that the project will move into the planning application stage in 2012.