Breaking news

Edinburgh University has abandoned its involvement with Drum Property Group’s controversial proposal to develop student accommodation, a hotel, and shops on and around Stead’s Place.

The news emerged in a series of briefings with local politicians and stakeholders (including the Save Leith Walk Campaign) on Friday.

A University spokesperson today confirmed: ‘The University has kept a close interest in the proposed plan for Stead’s Place and, after giving it careful consideration, has decided not to pursue that interest any further.’

EXPECT DISRUPTION 

City of Edinburgh Council has announced that a programme of ‘ground and site investigation work’ in advance of tramworks will begin on 20 May.

Contractors Sacryr, Farrans, Neopul (SFN) will carry out detailed ground investigation works at 25 sites along the route (including Elm Row and Leith Walk), in sections of 100m at a time between York Place and Newhaven.

Precise details concerning the when and where will be issued to locals and businesses soon.

This magnificent wisteria adorns the basement-level garden at 18A London Street. 

The Ambassador Theatre Group seeks planning permission to replace Edinburgh Playhouse’s existing billboard on Greenside Place with an LED display measuring 6.8m wide x 2m tall (Ref. 19/01947/ADV). 

NUISANCE, BAKERS, AND THE STATE OF THE NATION 

 2 FREE TICKETS FOR EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL 

Do you like beer? 

Do you like craft beer? 

Do you like drinking craft beer not too far away from your home or workplace in Broughton? 

Readers who can answer Yes to any of the above may be interested in the EDINBURGH CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL taking place on 24–25 May in the Biscuit Factory. 

Council staff were busy delivering ballot boxes and making preparations across Ward 12 today in advance of the Leith Walk by-election on Thursday 11 April.

Votes can be cast between 7am and 10pm at your designated polling station, one of nine peppered across the ward.

Eleven candidates are standing. You can read about some of them HERE. 

Leith Street will close to motor traffic again, this time for three weeks, from 7pm on 5 May till 7am on 25 May. 

Briefer weekend disruptions are also scheduled in June. 

Laing O’Rourke, the contractor building the new Edinburgh St James Quarter, says the closure will stretch from Waterloo Place to Greenside Row. Greenside Row will remain open. Calton Road will close.

Most previous traffic diversions will return, but an Abbeymout gyratory will not be repeated as it takes too long to install and remove. Easter Road traffic-light filters will be adjusted.

BELLEVUE CRESCENT MYSTERY (SOLVED)

Mixed howls of anguish and derision have greeted the disappearance of the recently installed wooden sculpture from Bellevue Crescent Gardens. This was the scene earlier today. 

Locals became aware of the squinty-eyed owl’s removal early on Sunday morning.

Most were mystified, but a crushed crocus and line of woodchips leading from park to kerbside suggested to some that it had been hoiked out and driven away in a hurry. Possibly by international art thieves working to order.

The Cockburn Association has recently expressed concern about the potential major redevelopment of Waverley Station which we summarised in Issue 283.