Breaking news

A new Scottish Conservative candidate has been announced for the Edinburgh Northern and Leith consituency: Sheila Low.

Spurtle understands she is an Aberdeen University Law graduate and North Queensferry resident, who stood in last year's General Election for Glenrothes.

Ms Low has been a Director in Edinburgh for the accountancy and business advice firm Baker Tilly since 2008, but her career has spanned investment management, venture capitalism, self-employment and corporate finance.

White Watch took part in the national Fire Fighters Charity Car Wash at McDonald Road Fire Station on Saturday 19 March.

Young Crew Managers Steven Doyle and Melanie Mason, and Young Firefighter Jordan Reid from the Edinburgh Phoenix Programme run by Lothian and Borders Fire and Rescue Service, helped raise about £300 for the Fire Fighters Charity.

The Urdu Society of Scotland will host its 18th annual Mushaira at McDonald Road Library later this month. Spurtle spoke to organiser Tariq Muneer – Professor of Energy Engineering at Napier University – in an effort to begin understanding this successful, but comparatively little known, cultural happening in Broughton's midst.

Agents representing Mr A. Belsham of Uxbridge have applied for listed building consent to create at 10 Picardy Place: '1. New front of building company fascia sign finished in powdercoated metal panel with black built up letters with halo illumination. 2. Roller shutter under bulkhead powdercoated in Hertz yellow RAL 1023. 3. Free standing sign post internally illuminated' (Ref. 11/00632/LBC).

This ghoulish figure has appeared high on a wall leading to the residents-only parking area off Gayfield Square.

By an unknown artist, it may perhaps be a response – either of endorsement or ridicule – to the blood-curdling sanctions  promised for anyone leaving their vehicle here without proper permission. Any information on other works by this talented individual would be gratefully received.

Scottish Liberal Democrats have often prided themselves on focusing election campaigns around local concerns, but this time location itself appears to be an issue.

Leith Central Community Council – like its Broughton and New Town equivalent – has now formally objected to Forth Energy's proposed biomass plant in Leith.

The text of Secretary Roland Reid's letter appears unedited below.

Today's Guardian local quotes the finding of Shirley-Anne Somerville, MSP, that 1,200 people have so far objected to the plans. Her letter of objection can be found in the pdf file at the foot of this page.

With 5 or more candidates likely to be fielding questions at the Spurtle hustings later this month, there's always a chance that an issue many people care about may still not get picked when a thicket of hands goes up.

Simon Pontin is a  freelance chef, musician and artist currently working in Edinburgh (www.simonpontin.com).

He 'loosely adheres' to the principles of Transpersonal Art, seeking through meditation and creativity to transcend the physical qualities of his materials and discover or express a spiritual reality.

When the National Portrait Gallery reopens its doors on 30 November, it will admit members of the public to an enormously improved and enlarged exhibition space within. The Queen Street pavement outside will also be expanded, stretching to roughly twice its current width on the Gallery's northern elevation.

This prioritisation of pedestrians is very welcome, although it will entail the loss of a minor, peripheral-vision landmark which has long intrigued and comforted passers-by: the small brass letters spelling 'STUART'S GRANOLITHIC'.