Breaking news

Coco - the Drummond Place Maine Coon missing since 28 April – has been found safe and well.

She was twice spotted on Sunday night, and finally recovered at around 9pm from a doorway near the Dublin Street junction. Somewhat dishevelled and a lot slimmer, Coco was meowing piteously in what sounds like a transparent effort to deflect criticism.

Coco's owner says 'We have no idea where she has been for the last 11 days, but we are just so glad that she has turned up.

'Everyone was so kind in our search, and we are really grateful to them all.'

Readers will probably have heard about controversial plans for a huge new Biomass plant in Leith.

People who are against the plans may well wonder how they can begin to represent their views competently on technical issues in a complicated planning system. Help is at hand.

Leith Neighbourhood Partnership have arranged with Planning Aid for Scotland to provide Energy Planning Training free for Leith residents. You don't have to be a community councillor, you just have to live in Leith.

The training will take place over a full day on Sat. 5 June 2010, and comprise:

The Scottish Government issues guidelines to developers about the proportion of any residential development to be reserved as social housing. It is a way of encouraging mixed communities in places where people really want to live.

However, the Government acknowledges that, in some exceptional circumstances, developers should be allowed to build such ‘affordable’ housing off site.

Kevin Lang – the Liberal-Democrat, second-placed candidate for Edinburgh North and Leith – told Spurtle:

'I am of course disappointed not to have won this time round.  

Iain McGill – the third-placed candidate in last week's General Election – has sent us the following comment.

'I am incredibly grateful to the 7,079 residents of Edinburgh North & Leith who voted Conservative, and hope dearly that when this goes to print they are heartened by us again having a Conservative Prime Minister.

A minor fire broke out in the pavement roof area of Broughton Street's Phoenix Bar early on Friday afternoon.

A small portion of the 19th-century extension was removed by the Fire Brigade to isolate the source of the problem.

Regulars – gathered impatiently on the other side of the street – speculated that decorators' use of blow torches to strip back paintwork, combined with warm and windy weather, may have caused the fire.

Spurtle has approached all candidates, asking for reactions to Friday morning's General Election result.

First past the post with a response was Labour's victorious Mark Lazarowicz.

'I'm obviously delighted at the election result,' he said. 'I was humbled at the amount of support I received from local people. I vowed at the start of the campaign that I would wage a positive campaign – I am glad I kept to that.

For capital results outwith Edinburgh North and Leith, click on the pdf below.

In Transmit – Axolotyl's new exhibition – artist Mike Inglis's screenprints examine the use of religious symbols and practices in an uncertain world.

'The influences are diverse,' writes Inglis, 'ranging from the ancient religions and icons used in voodoo ceremonies and their Roman Catholic counterparts, to contemporary graffiti icons we find in our streets.'

Transmits runs at Axolotyl, 35 Dundas Street, 10am–6pm (1–5pm on Sunday) from 7–29 May.

Pinsky – the Bellevue Road cat missing since 21 April – this morning turned up safe and sound.

He has lost a fair bit of weight and is a little grubby, but is reportedly delighted that his wanderings are over.

Pinsky's owners have no idea where he's been, but conclude that 'It must have been quite an adventure for a cat who'd never spent a full night out in his life.'

Spurtle suspects Pinsky has an aversion to election coverage on the telly, and only now considers it safe to come home.