The Edinburgh Minute ⏰: Weekend edition 9-11 February 2024

🌧️  Good morning Edinburgh. It’s due to be wet and windy for most of the weekend, but drier on Sunday, according to the Met Office. Here’s Friday’s Edinburgh Minute, followed by the weekend guide for paying subscribers. 

🚧  Lindsay Road in Newhaven reopened to traffic last night, 16 days after being closed due to the unsafe building in at Anchorfield. Residents have still not been allowed to return to their homes. - Katie Williams, Edinburgh Live.

🎾  The council’s plans to bulldoze Kirkliston leisure centre to make way for a new high school have been halted after councillors called for alternative sites on the greenbelt to be explored. - Donald Turvill, Local Democracy Reporter, Evening News.

💻  Warnings about the University of Edinburgh’s ‘disastrous’ People and Money Oracle IT system were ignored, according to a new independent report. Staff say their input and feedback was not listened to, resulting in ‘concerning impacts on staff wellbeing’, says the 41-page report (PDF). - Thanks to a Minute reader for sharing this further coverage from The Register.

💰  Following yesterday’s (exclusive) report that plans for 256 new flats on Ferry Road were decided on the flip of a coin, developer Artisan Real Estate is ‘considering its options’ because the coin toss could cost the company £3m, reports Kieran Findlay in Scottish Housing News. David Westwater, Scottish regional director for Artisan Real Estate, said: 

“This decision could delay or put in jeopardy the delivery of this much needed housing in Edinburgh which we had hoped would significantly address the city’s well publicised ‘housing emergency’.”

🇵🇸  Rugby fans heading to Murrayfield stadium on Saturday for the Scotland v France game will be ‘welcomed’ by supporters of the Gaza Genocide Emergency Committee, who say: “Israel refuses a ceasefire and we refuse to pretend genocide isn’t happening during the rugby match! Murrayfield stadium holds 67,144 we plan to greet them with flags, signs, and chants to remind them that genocide doesn’t pause on the weekends.” 

🚈  Construction works next to Haymarket station mean ScotRail is advising fans to avoid the station before and after the Six Nations rugby if possible.
⮑  Details about Saturday bus diversions around Murrayfield Stadium are shared by Lothian Buses here.
  ⮑  ‘Scotland will be genuine title contenders if they win successive home games against France and England,’ reports France 24 in its match preview. 

🏠  A two-bedroom mews on Circus Lane has gone on sale for £795,000. - Rettie.

👮‍♂️  Politicians are arguing about whether police numbers in Edinburgh have gone up or down since the formation of Police Scotland. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🖼️  Local mum Billie Fielding found her son Freddie’s doppelgänger in an 1881 painting at the Scottish National Gallery. She shared the photo with the gallery on Instagram: 

🏊‍♀️  A new aquatic research study for fall prevention is looking for participants. - The Edinburgh Reporter

🍿  ‘From Edinburgh Uni to Greece: All of the stunning real-life filming locations of One Day’ - Emily Smith, The Edinburgh Tab.

🍸  Bars across town will host the city’s first international bar show in April, held in Edinburgh and organised by industry veterans Iain McPherson, Jamie Faulds and Gary Anderson. - The Spirits Business.

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📌  “Critical Mass (a friendly protest ride for better cycling infrastructure in Edinburgh) has a special cycle ride this Sunday, 11 February. Meeting in Roseburn Park at 10:30am, they’ll ride the Roseburn path to show the council that it is a loved and well-used route. Here are their other upcoming cycles.” - Thanks to a subscriber for sharing this.

📆  What’s on: things to do this weekend

In summary: Manipulate Festival continues at Summerhall, the Artists Bookmarket and Edinburgh Zine Festival at Fruitmarket, the immersive Microsteria club night, free fitness classes, the Abandoned Artists exhibition opens, busy weekend at Out of the Blue Drill Hall, a writers’ retreat, live music at Leith Depot and some alternative spots to watch or avoid the rugby. Let’s dive in to the details to help you make the most of the weekend…