Breaking news

Former Scotland rugby international Donnie Mcfadyen is now designing men's vintage clothing, and selling it through Threadbare on Broughton St.

He told Spurtle's Scott Richards how a recent chance encounter with organisers resulted in his creations being exhibited at February's prestigious St Andrew's University Charity Show along with top international brands such as Jaeger.

Seeing his clothes on the catwalk was an experience he describes as different to but no less emotional and inspirational than standing on the pitch at Murrayfield singing ‘Flower of Scotland’.

In line with amended national planning policy, the City of Edinburgh Council has completed an audit of open spaces across the capital.

It is now developing a strategy to protect and develop them in a coordinated way.

Go to 'Extras' for details.

Two potential sites for new allotments have been identified in Broughton.

The sites are shown in the Leith Neighbourhood Partnership Action Plan – part of the Council's new draft Open Spaces Strategy (see 'Extras', 26.3.10).

A 1.5 acre site at the southern end of Pilrig Park (adjacent to existing allotments) could accommodate 30 plots, while a further 45 would be possible on the 2.1 acre south-facing slope of St Mark's Park.

When architects Sir Frank Mears Associates presented pre-planning application proposals for land between Broughton Rd and Heriothill, local residents expressed several concerns (see Issue 181).

However, what also emerged at the March New Town and Broughton Community Council meeting was that these plans are the result of ‘years of consultation' with City Planning officials. The City’s priority has, apparently, been to avoid overcrowding in the narrow, steeply enclosed site.

Organisers of the 2010 Christian Aid Book Sale are appealing for contributions. They hope to receive books, of course, but also many other items of interest to the collector (for details, see below).

Gifted items should be delivered on weekdays, 9am–9pm from 26 April to 5 May. The event itself runs on 8 and from 10–14 May.

Has your red recycling bin become so cracked and brittle that cardboard falls out of it? Has your recycling sack split with the strain of Liberal-Democrat election literature? Has your blue recycling bin collapsed under the weight of discarded glass? Since your raincover went missing, have you been ashamed to put out your empty bottles in case neighbours realise how much 'olive oil' you're getting through?

The following details arose from the pre-planning application meeting at McDonald Rd Library on 22 March. For locals' initial reactions see Issue 181. Plans can be viewed by clicking on the pdf below.

Architects Hackland + Dore's proposed development would face out onto McDonald Road, McDonald Street, McDonald Place, and Bellevue Rd: 2, 3 and 4-bedroom flats; plus some ground-floor commercial units on McDonald Rd.

Food at the National Library of Scotland has improved hugely since Jane St-based caterers Galway Gourmet took over.

‘Jaundiced of Claremont’ reports enjoying a biryani there recently. So much so that afterwards he carefully studied the list of ingredients to discover its secret.

Was it the ‘spiced rice, carrot, and potatoes’? Nothing unusual about those. What about the ‘mushrooms, sunflower, almond, salt and pepper’? No again.

Oh dear. In that case, it can only have been ... the ‘pees’.

The New Town and Broughton Community Council today responded to the Council's draft (Tranche 1) Traffic Regulation Orders on how Edinburgh streets will change because of  trams.

The TROs are being rolled out in three 'tranches': (1) proposed changes along the tram route itself; (2) changes along adjacent routes intended to cope with displaced traffic; (3) changes to cope with unforeseen consequences of the first two tranches.

A Zender piano bought secondhand ten years ago is now on offer free to a good home.

The instrument got its previous owner, with tuition, to Grade 6, and is now in need of retuning. It's situated locally in a ground-floor maindoor flat, so should be easy to shift.

Please pass the word, and if interested contact j.fairley@blueyonder.co.uk.