Breaking news

In Issue 181 and Breaking news (26.3.10), we reported on pre-planning application proposals for land between Heriothill and Broughton Rd.

Following objections and reservations expressed by neighbours, developer Sir Frank Mears and Partners has written to the New Town and Broughton Community Council promising to look again at how it will shore up the site's steep slope during and after excavation.

It has also agreed to introduce screening in order to ensure privacy for locals in Claremont to the south and children at the Heriothill Nursery to the west.

Spring has sprung, and so have all the local children into the flower-beds.

If your horticultural spirits are feeling a bit flat, there are two new exhibitions coming to Broughton this month which will have you beaming in no time.

See 'Extras' for more details.

Curious locals have been asking what the building work at Scotland Yard Adventure Centre – visible from King George V Park – is all about.

The Yard's Chief Executive, Celine Sinclair, told us that the extension is in order to allow offices to move upstairs. In the space vacated downstairs, a new play-room will be created for children aged under 5.

The Yard was established in 1986 as a purpose-built indoor/outdoor facility and adventure playground for children and young people with additional support needs.

The hunt is still on for Pinsky, the young, black-and-white Bellevue Rd cat who went missing on 21 April (see 'Breaking news', 27.4.10).

Pinsky's owners have now searched from St Mark's Park to Easter Road, and from Northumberland Street to the foot of Bonnington Road. They have had calls and emails about possible sightings, but he's not the only black-and-white cat in Edinburgh. At this point he could be anywhere and they just hope he's OK.

Planning permission has been sought to change offices at 34–8 York Place into a hotel.

The Cameron Guest House Group (CGHG) initially proposed knocking together the three Category A-listed town houses into a 30-bedroom guest house in September 2009 (Ref. 09/03205/FUL).

At that stage, the business proposed serving mainly cold food, so just 1 toaster and 1 microwave were to be provided for the convenience of up to 60 guests hoping to enjoy a traditional Edinburgh welcome. Hmm.

A drop-in session for 'older' computer novices will run at the Central Library Learning Centre, from 10am–12.30pm on Saturday 22nd May. No previous experience is required.

Would-be silver-surfers are invited to sample the benefits of information technology with the aid of friendly tutors.

As well as discovering what local libraries and the Council website have to offer, game techno-incompetents can experiment with a mouse, access the internet, and marvel at the endless new possibilities for spending money, sinning, or becoming a victim of identity fraud.

City of Edinburgh Council's election team staff began checking an estimated 55,000 postal votes this morning in advance of the count proper.

To help prevent fraud, and for the first time in a general election, dates of birth and signatures held on file are being compared with those supplied by voters.

To allow the election result to be announced with the minimum of delay, people are encouraged to return their postal votes as soon as possible. However, they can also hand them in to any polling place in their constituency up until 10pm on 6 May.

The 6th BUPA Great Edinburgh Run will take place over 10km on Sunday 2 May.

As well as driving an estimated 10,000 amateur athletes into the arms of private doctors, it will cause a 'degree of disruption' to drivers around the city centre, from 5am–3pm.

Full details of parking suspensions and road closures can be found in the pdf at the foot of this page.

For further information, contact Clarence on: Freephone 0800 23 23 23 (8am-8pm, today or tomorrow).

Issue 182 is printed and ready for distribution. Between now and Saturday you'll find it appearing in all the usual pubs, clubs, shops and galleries throughout Broughton.

This month we lead with news on the latest twist in Tesco's arrival in Picardy Place, questions about a possible spike in local crime, and coverage of how the Westminster candidates fared at last week's hustings.

We have features on 4 eminent Broughtonians, planning notes, dates for your diary and pleas for your company.

David Carfrae of Canonmills says he is an admirer of Thomas Hardy's poem about the RMS Titanic.

He suggests the Iceberg was a bigot.

We're not sure about Mr Carfrae's political analysis, but would at least like to thank him for raising the tone.

      VIII

And as the smart ship grew
     In stature, grace, and hue
In shadowy silent distance grew the Iceberg too.