An item of "Breaking News". Will appear on the Breaking News page and the front page.
PLEA TO REJECT HOTEL PROPOSAL FOR OLD ROYAL HIGH SCHOOL
Spurtle has been sent the text of an open letter to Councillor Frank Ross, the Lord Provost.
The letter was dated 17 August, and signed by Dr William Moyes (Chairman of St Mary's Music School), William Gray Muir (Chairman of the Royal High School Preservation Trust), and Dr Carol Colborn Grigor (Dunard Fund).
In a world increasingly filled with bad news, it’s good to find there’s still room for a little silliness.
One such spot is on the corner of Dublin Street and Dublin Street Lane, where some unknown artist has recently spotted the comic potential of a splash of paint to create this amusing hybrid.
We’re not sure what it is or what to call it … a Semenridiculum, perhaps, or Harpobalæna.
Whatever it is, we approve. If you know of other examples, please let us know.
You will not require sunglasses during, or a cup of tea and a lie-down after, a visit to Paperwork 4 at the Edinburgh Ski Club.
This is not an exhibition of flamboyant effects, dramatic lighting, the action-packed expression of violent passions. If you want those, go and look at the non-Caravaggios up the hill.
No, what we have here is three mature artists examining with calm, unhurried concentration the subtle interplay of form, void, tone, line, pattern, and texture … and it’s fascinating.
LOVELY LEITH STREET CLOSURE COMING SOON
Developers, contractors, investors and City of Edinburgh Council are combining to win hearts and minds in advance of the 10-month Leith Street closure, starting on 2 September.
Their relentlessly upbeat brochure is now doing the rounds, which you can find attached at the foot of the page. It has been produced by touchy-feely Together for Edinburgh, ‘working in partnership for a better Edinburgh’.
TIME TO RESIST GIGANTIC GYRATORY
Plans for the future road layout of Picardy Place are at long last emerging into the light.
Unfortunately, what we now see is something very like the gigantic gyratory so many people have dreaded for so long.
The plans have been drawn up by consultants working for the developers, and although the Council has been involved there’s been no conversation with the public until last month.
Stone Acre Gayfield Square Ltd seeks planning permission to demolish the former garage, workshop and gallery spaces at the north-west corner of Gayfield Square and build residential apartments in their place (Ref. 17/03392/FUL; 17/03393/CON).
The new block would consist of 11 flats: two studios, one 1-bedroom, six 2-bedroom, two 3-bedroom.
It’s all go on Dunedin Street.
No sooner has Alien Bloc opened its doors to the bouldering brave (Issue 265, p.3) than in a separate development, Signature Pubs Ltd seeks to erect an extra flue through the wall of their ‘workshop building’ at Nos 8–10 to facilitate the operation of a new micro-brewery (Ref. 17/03586/FUL).
Over 30 people gathered outside Drummond Community High School this afternoon to protest against the Fringe presence inside of the Shalom Festival.
Organised by the Scottish Palestine Solidarity Campaign, the demonstrators stood for 4 hours outside the school gate to make their points concerning what they regard as Israel’s unjust policy towards Palestinians.
They say the Shalom Festival glosses over injustice at home, and whilst celebrating Israel’s peaceful cultural diversity does not have much (if anything) to say about Palestinians’ experience.
NEW GALLERY IN FINE FORM
Since the Union Gallery left Broughton Street, locals have had to look elsewhere for contemporary Scottish art close at hand.
A new addition to the choice of nearby venues has been the Lennon Gallery on Hamilton Place, which opened in February.
Normally, it is a showcase for the multifarious output of its owner Alan Lennon who sculpts, paints and produces photomontages.
COUNCIL SAYS WORK HAS NOT BEGUN ON SANDY HILL
A Council official from the Enforcement Team today announced that recent removal of earth from the Sandy Hill development site does not represent a breach of planning control.
Writing to Leith Walk Councillor Lewis Ritchie, the official said that following a site visit yesterday, he accepted the contractor’s explanation that excavations were necessary to ‘provide a stable platform for plant and machinery’.