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An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.

ROMANCE MEETS RETAIL THERAPY

Submitted by Editor on

Broughton Street traders are beating tramworks disruption with a series of promotions to retain old customers and attract new ones.

Loved-up locals could be the first to benefit.

Shoppers buying chocolates, roses, gifts, an evening meal, lingerie or champagne on Broughton Street over the St Valentine's Day weekend (12–14 February) will be entered into a prize draw for which the reward is a hamper.

CEC DARTS SELF IN FOOT

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Normally Spurtle researches stories rather than lifting them wholesale from press releases (unlike a certain other Edinburgh newspaper we could mention).

On this occasion, however, the City of Edinburgh Council event described is so unintentionally hilarious (it even gets the date of St Valentine's Day wrong), so half-baked in conception, so utterly unlikely to succeed that we recycle the details in full. They are beyond parody.

If any readers do attend this romantic get-away over the weekend, please send us photos and a full account.

 

BROUGHTON STREET TO REOPEN SOON?

Submitted by Editor on

Unconfirmed reports suggest that Broughton Street may be scheduled to reopen at the end of this month.

If proposals are adopted, one lane will reopen on 22 February allowing left turns into Broughton Street from York Place. Complete reopening in both directions will take place on 29 February. A clear decision is expected following the next Traffic Management Meeting on Monday 15 February.

In the meantime, local traders' reactions have ranged from stunned gratitutde to slack-jawed disbelief.

IS YOUR HOME FUEL-EFFICIENT?

Submitted by Editor on

The Scottish Government's Climate Challenge Fund is backing Edinburgh World Heritage with £39K. The money is to address energy efficiency issues and fuel poverty in the Old and New Towns and adjacent Conservation areas.

As a first step EWH are running an online questionnaire. This will form the basis for distributing advice and arranging seminars in future.

ADMINISTRATION BLINKS FIRST IN SCHOOLS BUDGET STAND-OFF

Submitted by Editor on

In a partial but significant climbdown, Administration councillors are now promising to reduce the cut in the schools budget from 2.5% to 1%.

The devil, of course, will be in the detail, but Education Convener Marilyne MacLaren claims 'the Administration has listened to serious concerns expressed by teachers and parents and has done everything possible to protect schools'.

IT'S QUIET ... TOO QUIET

Submitted by Editor on

In Issue 179 ('Briefly', p. 2) we pointed readers towards what we mistakenly thought was a new (if somewhat quiet) website for the New Town and Broughton Community Council.

In fact the address cited was for NTBCC's old and abandoned website.

Observant visitors may have noticed creaking portals, tumbleweed blowing down the cyber-street, and e-vultures circling overhead.

The true, new, all-singing-and-dancing NTBCC website is on its way, slowly.

NEW HEAD FOR DRUMMOND CHS

Submitted by Editor on

Spurtle understands a new Headteacher has been appointed for Drummond Community High School.

Norma Prentice, current Depute Head of Arbroath Academy, will fill the post, and is reputedly keen to live as well as work in the neighbourhood.

We'll bring you more details as we have them.

SCHOOLS BUDGET CRISIS – TIME TO ACT

Submitted by Editor on

The problem

As reported in Issue 178, Edinburgh schools face potentially dire consequences if the Council's budget proposals are approved on 11 February.

In addition to the 1.5% 'efficiency savings' already in place, CEC proposes cuttiing school budgets by 2.5% in each of the next 3 years. 'Backdoor cuts' have already been made by transferring extra costs to schools (exam fees, maternity-leave pay, refuse, water) without making extra money available.