Breaking news

 POLICE SEEK HELP TO IDENTIFY MAN 

Police in Edinburgh this morning issued a press release and CCTV images of a man they wish to trace in connection with a stabbing and attempted robbery at the USave convenience store on Elm Row. 

We reproduce their wording below. 

The incident happened at around 9.30pm on Wednesday 2nd May at the USave shop on Elm Row. 

Two men, aged 64 and 54, were working within when a male entered and presented a weapon before attempting to steal money.

Roadworks at the junction of Rodney Street and Broughton Road have been causing delays and disruption locally. 

We hear the three-way traffic lights – particularly at peak times – have caused tailbacks stretching nearly as far as Broughton Primary School travelling west, Mansfield Place to the south and beyond Canonmills Bridge to the north. 

Shoppers have apparently had difficulty exiting Tesco, and turning right from Logie Green Road. The scene below was captured at 12.15pm today. 

 MORE SERIOUS DOUBTS ABOUT INITIAL DESIGN 

Pedestrian campaigners Living Streets Edinburgh Group has issued its response to the Council’s consultation on Trams to Newhaven. LSEG was commenting on first-draft proposals for the design in the event of the Council voting to proceed with the extension this autumn. 

 HOSTILE REACTION IN ADVANCE OF EXHIBITION LATER THIS WEEK 

Save Leith Walk campaigners have reacted scornfully to preliminary design proposals for the redevelopment of Stead’s Place.

They say demolition of the two-storey 1930s buildings, whilst retaining elements of their facades in a new five/six-storey structure, would be ‘overpowering and disrespectful’ of Leith Walk’s heritage. 

They also criticise the incongruous use of brick.

 CYCLING GROUP ISSUES FULL RESPONSE 

The cycle campaign group Spokes has now published its detailed response to the Council’s consultation on extending the tramway to Newhaven.

The full response supersedes preliminary reactions issued earlier, and is available as a pdf at the foot of this page.

Spokes starts from the premise of welcoming the longer route, and expresses a willingness to participate constructively in making it work well.

 LCCC RESPONDS TO COUNCIL CONSULTATION ON TRAMS 

Leith Central Community has formally responded to the Council’s consultation on extending the route to Newhaven. They have serious misgivings concerning design philosophy, the consultation and delivery processes, and design details.

In broad terms, LCCC is unconvinced that CEC has learned lessons from previous tram-related mistakes, or established procedures to avoid repeating them. 

 LAST CHANCE TO SEE APRIL EXHIBITION 

Contrasting but complementary work by three artists has been on show at the Lennon Art Gallery this month. 

Owner Alan Lennon’s paintings here are characteristically sculptural, delighting in rounded forms that recall the satisfying smoothness of sea-worn rocks. 

Themes of wholeness and completion recur in his work, giving a kind of tactile reality to otherwise nebulous human qualities such as aspiration, protection, reflection, and healing. My favourite of these was ‘Possession’ (below).

 PICARDY PLACE PERPLEXITY

The ‘Battle of Picardy Place’ may have been decisively won by those in favour of a gyratory, but various local stakeholders believed their input would still be valued in fine-tuning aspects of the subsequent design. Months later, some have been left feeling deeply disenchanted. Peter Williamson, Chair of the Picardy Residents Association, gives a personal perspective. 

 CAN EDINBURGH RESIST SIREN CALLS? 

British Telecommunications PLC seeks planning permission to remove 26 payphones from central Edinburgh and replace them with 12 InLink units. 

InLinks offer free superfast WiFi, mobile and landline calls, mobile-device charging, and access to maps, directories and local services. 

GIANT ON ITS WAY … BUT WHICH?

An unnamed ‘global technology company’ seeks permission to convert 42 Shandwick Place from retail use to a Class 10 training and education centre (Ref. 18/01596/FUL; 18/01597/ADV).