THE INDUSTRIAL HALL (2)
The excitement of empire, capitalism and cleanliness
One week ago, we began this series with a brief history of how vacant land on Annandale Street came to be converted into the capital's first purpose-built exhibition space.
THE INDUSTRIAL HALL (1)
The surprising story of Annandale Street’s early exhibition space
As reported in Issue 342, a commemorative red wheel has recently been attached to the boundary wall of the Lothian Buses depot on Annandale Street. It marks the importance of the site in Scotland’s transport history since 1926.
POWDERHALL STABLES AND MIXED NURSERY/SENIOR HOUSING
Some clarity, at last
Spurtle has been following the lack of obvious progress in completing refurbishment of the Powderhall Stables as artist studios, micro offices, and public meeting space. We’ve also been interested in the stalled development of mixed senior housing and nursery on the former bowling-green site adjacent.
ISSUE 342 – OUT SOON!
As you read this, advance copies of the August Spurtle are already spreading across Broughton like Fringe-goers seeking somewhere to sit down without a comedian standing up in it.
Page 1 starts with old news and fond hopes and the benefit of hindsight. From a seat we move to a bench, from a bench to a bucket, and from bucket to barrier.
Fantastic flowers follow on Page 2, as do welcome new safety features, park publication plans, thoughts on congestion and worrying news for dogs.
PHOTO OPPORTUNITY
Historic Edinburgh and a Mickey-Mouse Mickey Mouse.
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#tourism
Time to clean up local streets
Dear Spurtle,
The streetscape in the Broughton and Bellevue areas of Edinburgh is in a parlous state.
The streets and road gullies in this largely residential area of a world-class city are dirty, strewn with litter, spillages from communal dustbins, leaves and detritus. Residents now enjoy the delightful display of ankle-high weeds growing out of footpaths and road gullies throughout the neighbourhood. On top of this, we all contend with broken and uneven paving stones in the locality.
It is manifestly plain that the City Council does not have a systematic plan for maintaining a satisfactory level of street cleaning. The way the service is currently organised, executed and delivered is failing us all and requires immediate revision in the light of the lived experiences of those who foot the Council Tax bill.
I was very impressed with how spotlessly clean the Royal Mile was by 7.30am each morning when the late Queen was lying in state in St. Giles'. If the Council can manage to keep the Royal Mile clean for royalty, why are they incapable of doing the same for those of us who pay the Council Tax year in year out.
I had such high hopes for improvements in street cleaning and the streetscape when Labour gained control of the City Council in the last local-government elections, only to be disappointed. Nothing changes!
I have decided to organise a residents' petition in my street and to present this to the Leader of the Council. I would strongly encourage all good Spurtle readers to do likewise.
If the Council cannot keep the streets clean, what can it do? It is a poor do! Time for change (as Labour likes to say), I think so.
Shane Carter
East Claremont Street
NOTE: If you wish to add your name to the petition (see wording below), email:
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RODNEY STREET
Epic skies over Goldenacre tonight.
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DEAN CEMETERY THIS AFTERNOON
O death, where is thy sting?
(From our Foreign Correspondent.)
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#out and about