Breaking news

Have you noticed the increasingly uneven appearance of St Mark's Park? What was, a few years ago, a fairly flat surface with one or two notable humps between the plantation and cherry-tree avenue has, by imperceptible stages, become noticeably lumpier. Spurtle investigated.

The good news is that – contrary to local fears – the site is not in the process of conversion to a links golf course and luxury development following purchase by Donald Trump.

To all those sceptical readers who piffled and pshawed at mention of a concrete ping-pong table earlier this month (Issue 198), we say study this picture.

It shows the concrete ping-pong table newly installed in King George V Park.

It has been an up-and-down sort of week for Sojourn Hotels LLD – owners of the Osbourne Hotel – who received a mixed decision on their application to install a platform lift between ground and basement levels at Category A-listed 51–9 York Place (Ref. 11/02398/FUL). Mostly down.

If the October Spurtle were a tin of assorted Broughton-related chocolates, it would knock a tin of Quality Street Broughton-related chocolates into a cocked hat. For variety and depth of coverage on all topical issues relating to an area of north-central Edinburgh big enough to throw a medium-sized tablecloth over, it is unrivalled.

Readers of a certain vintage, with a taste for Italian design and English detective thrillers, will glow privately at the sight of this car.

The Volvo P1800 was launched in 1961 and is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year. Instantly recognisable at the time for its sleek, ultra-modern styling, and distinctive rear window, it was the unforgettable choice of Simon Templar, 'The Saint' (licence plate ST1), as played by Roger Moore in the TV series which began in 1962.

In what some may regard as a sharp rap over the knuckles, developers hoping to change shop premises at 28 Howe Street into a Sainsbury's Local have been told to think again.

During last weekend's Doors Open Day, many locals will have reacquainted themselves with the modest charms of the Glasite Meeting House on Barony Street.

This deliberately unassuming building is no longer used for religious gatherings, but is the national headquarters of the charitable Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland (AHSS).

A police constable plods purposefully towards the camera on Dundas Street. So far so reassuring. But then the doubts set in.

Why has he drawn his truncheon? Why is he wearing an English helmet. What's with the odd-looking collar and tie?

In Issue 189 and Breaking news (2.12.10) we investigated the origins of this area's corpseless head. Now another Canadian link has been discovered with very similar provenance.

During Doors Open Day yesterday, Spurtle happened upon the totem pole shown right in Abercromby Place.

In the latest twist to a protracted planning saga, architect Richard Murphy has been denied permission to create a rooftop terrace at 4 Bellevue Terrace.

The proposed works had included: internal alterations; removal of existing windows and their replacement with larger, metal-framed ones; formation of a new roof terrace; new materials for sloping roof areas.