The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Weekend edition 3 - 5 January 2025
Powderhall plans paused, ghost flights, election costs, alt-Trump event + snow forecast
❄️ Good morning Edinburgh. Snow is forecast on Sunday and Monday, according to the Met Office, although it could be rain if temperatures change. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers. Both sections are pretty short I’m afraid!
🏠 Plans for new housing on the former Powderhall waste-transfer site on Broughton Road have stalled. Two key applications for hundreds of new homes have been withdrawn. - It’s an exclusive in the Spurtle, which even got a reply from the council on a bank holiday.
✈️ Dozens of empty planes flew to or from Edinburgh Airport last year. Environmental campaigners have hit out at ‘ghost flights’, with more than 750 in Scotland last year. - Martyn McLaughlin, The Scotsman.
🗳️ Next month’s Colinton/Fairmilehead by-election is expected to cost around £80,000. There’s ‘fury’ among local politicians over the costs, reports Phyllis Stephen in The Edinburgh Reporter.
🗳️ New city council leader Jane Meagher says she needs to "build trust" and "set the record straight" after taking on the role two weeks ago. Meagher took over from Cammy Day, after allegations of inappropriate messages to refugees forced him to resign. - Jack Foster, Forth 1 News.
🎤 A night of ‘alternative celebration’ at the Scottish Storytelling Centre is planned for the day of Donald Trump's inauguration. Organiser Tim Porteus says the charity fundraiser will be: “An evening of stories, songs and music to convey hope over despair, solidarity over division, empathy over apathy, equality over discrimination and curiosity and understanding over fear. A tonic of hope, a light in the dark, a night of great craic for those who want to share in a positive vision of humanity and how culture can unite a divided world.” - It’s on Monday 20 January and all profits will go to the Médecins Sans Frontières humanitarian charity.
📌 Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard
📌 “The first Thank Music It's Friday concert of the year at Stockbridge Music Hub at Stockbridge Church presents the Malvina Guitar Duo. Admission is free. Concert at 1pm.” - Thanks as always to Clea Friend for sending this in.
📌 “Get your New Year off to a flying start with Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, the city's 'secular congregation'. We meet monthly (11.30am, Stockbridge, free) to celebrate life together with singing, talks, poems, reflections and chats (plus tea and cake) with the motto Live Better, Help Often and Wonder More. The theme this month is Soft Power with guest speaker Mike Stevenson.” - Thanks to Mark McKergow, Chair, Sunday Assembly Edinburgh, for sending this in.
📌 “City restaurant Ronaq is serving up a new year treat for Edinburgh diners with 50 per cent off all food for the month of January. Mohammed Shoaib, boss of the the BYOB Comely Bank eatery, says he wants to give back to the community after a "difficult year".” - Thanks to Paul Kiddie for sending this in.
📌 “Dr Elaine Smith is a Clinical Psychologist specialising in workplace mental health and wellbeing. She's offering ONE Edinburgh organisation (250+ employees) an exclusive leaders mental health and wellbeing session in Q1 of 2025. Check out the linkedin post for further information and entry criteria.” - Thanks to Dr Elaine Smith, Clinical Psychologist and Workplace Wellbeing Consultant, for sending this in. Happy birthday Elaine!
