Critics have raised serious doubts about suggestions for reinventing Edinburgh’s 'front-line civic stewardship' as potentially unfair, unworkable and unaccountable.

The proposals emerged yesterday in a leaked report by Leith-based policy think-tank Dark Blue Sky (DBS). It argues a three-tier system operating on capital streets could complement the work of police and make life in the increasingly crowded city centre safer and more pleasurable for visitors and residents alike.

As you read this, advanced copies of the April Spurtle are already dispersing across the barony like personal items storm-torn from a clothes line and caught in the branches of a tree just out of reach from your opposite neighbour’s first-floor kitchen window.

Page 1 looks at ways to address a tatty muddle that ought to be the capital’s tiara. It continues with a lumpen mess, reports Picardy residents’ demands for better, and concludes with first news of the forthcoming Spurtle election hustings. And there’s a view of a doo.

If hospitality firms reopen as planned on 26 April, Edinburgh Council will help them by waiving fees for outdoor area occupation permits and making additional space available in a largely pedestrianised area between Charlotte Square and Frederick Street.

The Scottish Government’s restricted hours for hospitality mean that up to 6 adults from 3 households will be able to be served alcohol until 10pm, and/or food without alcohol indoors until 8pm. Council-assisted outdoor bevvying will continue until ‘at least 30 September 2021’.

Below we reprint in full an article which first appeared in the Scotsman on 30 March 1901 and was later abridged in the Spurtle (Issue 305).

For the avoidance of doubt, Dr Hadwen’s opinions are not entirely shared by the Spurtle. Rather, we find them an interesting precursor of some people’s objections to inoculation today. The footnotes have been added by contributor AM.

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HOUSING OF EDINBURGH POOR.

ADDRESS BY JUDGE BROWN.

Under the auspices of the Edinburgh Citizens’ and Ratepayers’ Union, in the Freemasons’ Hall, George Street, Edinburgh, last night, Judge Brown addressed a crowded meeting on “How the Edinburgh Poor are Housed.’’[1]

On 17 March, councillors on the Development Management Subcommittee granted permission for the police box on Heriot Row to operate as a coffee and food sale point (20/02262/FUL).

So ended a planning issue which has divided parts of the Second New Town for over nine months.

The decision was explained as follows:

Police Scotland is appealing for information after a cyclist collided with a car in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon. We reprint (unedited) their press release below.

Around 4.40pm on Sunday, 21 March, a 32-year-old woman was cycling a white Specialized road bike on Broughton Street, near to Forth Street, when a collision occurred involving a silver coloured Volkswagen car. The driver of the Volkswagen stopped, however was not present when police arrived. 

The woman was taken to Edinburgh Royal Infirmary to be treated for minor injuries.