The Edinburgh Reporter May 2024

2 NEWS

Editorial

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Our news relates to Edinburgh and the immediate area.

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Editor: Phyllis Stephen

Designer: Tammy Kerr

Photos: Martin P McAdam

THE SCOTTISH political landscape has

changed and Humza Yousaf, has resigned

after little over a year in office as leader of

the SNP, triggering a change in leadership of

the party, and the possibility of a leadership

election unless one candidate steps forward.

There was a seismic shift when the First

Minister decided not to wait for a decision

by the members of the Scottish Green Party

on whether they would continue the Bute

House Agreement under which an official

coalition was set up in 2021 or not.

Instead, he summarily dismissed the two

Scottish Green ministers, Lorna Slater and

Patrick Harvie, and, following a Scottish

Cabinet meeting, the union between the two

parties came to an abrupt end. Some

acrimonious comments from the Greens

ensued, and it became clear the move was

not well advised.

To his credit, Mr Yousaf admitted in his

tearful resignation statement that he got this

wrong in what turned out to be a major

political miscalculation.

He said in his resignation speech:

“Unfortunately, in ending the Bute House

Agreement, in the manner that I did, I

clearly underestimated the level of hurt and

upset I caused Green colleagues.”

Two motions of no confidence had been

lodged at The Scottish Parliament, either

one of which might have meant no change

in the status quo, a new leader of the SNP, or

a new government.

In a year when the country and the

political parties are already gearing up for a

UK General Election it is difficult to

understand how parties could also afford to

campaign for an election in Scotland, but at

least that has been avoided.

Who will be the new leader remains in

question with names including those of

previous leader, John Swinney, being mooted,

and he is “actively considering” that.

Politics aside, Edinburgh is careering into

spring with spectacular displays of blossom

all over the city. Enjoy it while it lasts.

Phyllis Stephen, Editor

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Planning News

A NEW APPLICATION has been lodged with

the council for the site at 26 Dunedin Street

where a previous application for Purpose Built

Student Accommodation (PBSA) was refused.

The revised plans are to retain some PBSA with

amenity space, cycle parking, landscaping and

infrastructure.

Plans have been submitted for new murals

on the wall of South Leith Parish Kirk, rebuilt

after the tram works.

An application for a building warrant has

been submitted to internally refurbish the

retained sports and community block at

Wester Hailes Education Centre - all part of the

£3.8million Wester Hailes High School scheme.

Hidden Door Festival are in negotiations

with the council to lease the vacant

commercial unit at 133 Lauriston Place as a

permanent base and creative hub.

The former Craigiehall Barracks, on the

western fringes of the city has been sold. The

William Pears Group has acquired the 78

former MOD houses and will refurbish them.

Miller Developments will buy the balance of

the 96 acre site for development. The site

includes the A listed Craigiehall House with a

walled garden and stable block and the

Category B listed former Anti-Aircraft

Operations Room.

Plans for the National Centre for Music at the

former Royal High School have been revised

by Richard Murphy Architects. Revisals include

the addition of a new school entrance pavilion,

all part of a new application for the Thomas

Hamilton building lodged in March. Previous

plans to move St Mary’s Music School from its

West End base fell through last summer amid

claims that building costs had doubled.

The Meadows to George Street project has

reached a “major milestone” with a

consultation from 27 May to 8 July. Plans

include pedestrianisation of Forrest Road, and

two-way traffic on Teviot Place and Bristo Place

with segregated cycleways and continous

footpaths.

Go Monarchs!

THIS MONTH we feature a photo of the Edinburgh Monarchs Speedway

Motorcycling Team c.1965 which was contributed by the Living Memory

Association to a new Edinburgh Collected scrapbook about the capital’s

speedway team. Photos are mainly from the sixties. Edinburgh Collected

is the online community photo archive managed by Edinburgh City

Libraries. edinburghcollected.org

1965

Former Army HQ at

Craigiehall