Breaking news

As last reported here on 10 March, new principles for the layout and uses of George Street have reached an advanced stage. They will go before the Transport and Environment Committee for approval on 7 June. 

That report is available as a pdf at the foot of this page. As far as it goes (precise timetabling, materials, designs and budget are not yet available), we think the document is helpful and admirably clear. We therefore don’t see a need to paraphrase it at length. 

Another fine day. More crowds in St Andrew Square Garden enjoying the sunshine, enjoying the grass. Not the gurgling bog but the warm, soft, scented, easy-on-the-eye grass. 

Monday saw the second Edinburgh outing of the gold open-topped bus in as many weeks as it visited Broughton Primary School, writes Nicola Clark-Tonberg (Chair, Parent Staff Association).

Lothian Buses were helping celebrate the success of 64 children who had competed in the Edinburgh Marathon Festival junior races at the weekend to raise money for their school.

The missing Gormleys will not return to the Water of Leith this summer. 

Last August we reported the National Galleries of Scotland’s intention to replace the four human figures at Bell’s Mill, Stockbridge, Powderhall and Bonnington – possibly as early as May 2016. 

But now, ‘complex engineering challenges’ mean the buff bathers will not be seen again until May 2017 at the earliest.

One Spurtle does not a summer make, but our printed June issue makes a good start with swooping scoops on art, zooming fly-pasts on licensing and flags, high-pitched screeching about the bargain buy of the season, and a free sunshine give-away for every reader. 

We examine the downsides of free Wi-Fi, delayed reappearances in public places, and a proposal to expand the bare and uninteresting flank of an old friend. We delve into the anatomical impossibilities of planners and assessors, bring news of supermarket comings and restaurant goings, and lift the lid on local crime.

The future of 8 St Andrew Square becomes a little clearer (and more appetising) with news that London-based Iberica Food and Culture Ltd has applied for planning permission to open here (Ref. 16/02587/FUL).

When Waterloo Place was constructed in 1819, it bisected Calton Burying Ground leaving a rump cemetery on the uphill northern side of the road. 

Less well-known than the currently closed section overlooking Waverley which contains the grave of David Hume, it’s accessible via a short set of steps leading up from Calton Hill beside the Parliament House Hotel. 

Despite its relative obscurity and meagre size, there is much of interest here, including this simple stone right at the centre:

An alternative guidebook to Edinburgh that aims to be as surprising and insightful for locals as it is for visitors will be launched on 1 June. 

Researched and written by local Hannah Robinson, it’s the latest in the ‘Secret and Unusual Guide’ series by Jonglez Publishing, which already covers cities including Amsterdam, Brussels, Copenhagen, Geneva, Lisbon, New York, Prague and Venice.

Last week we launched the first of our Edinburgh safaris by inviting readers to search for four or more owls (see foot of page). 

Since then we've been inundated by one entry, which correctly identified the location of our photograph as the small courtyard next to the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. Unfortunately, Lizzie Rynne supplied no photos of her alleged sightings of other owls on Cockburn Street. Chessels Court and Muir Wood, Currie. Congratulations all the same.

THE VIEWS FROM THE TOP 

Given that one can see New St Andrew’s House from just about everywhere in Edinburgh, it should come as no surprise that one can also see just about everwhere in Edinburgh from the top of New St Andrew’s House.