> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.edinburghminute.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Monday 9 February 2026 - URL: https://www.edinburghminute.com/the-edinburgh-minute-monday-9-february-2026/ - Published: 2026-02-09T07:00:08.000Z - Updated: 2026-02-09T07:00:08.000Z - Description: 800 uni staff leave jobs, A&E 'under extreme pressure', Southside Community Council meeting tonight + £15k fundraiser for cathedral bells - Author: Michael MacLeod 🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Not the busiest morning of news so far. Here’s everything I could find for Monday's **Edinburgh Minute**. [Subscribe for free or upgrade here](https://www.edinburghminute.com/#/portal/signup/) ☔️ **This week's weather:** It's expected to get colder as the week progresses. Starting with a high of **9C** today, falling to a freezing **0C** by Friday. Showers for much of this week. There are some '*exact time it will snow*' headlines, but they're clickbait and it's just sleet forecast for Thursday night. - [See the full Met Office forecast here](https://weather.metoffice.gov.uk/forecast/gcvwr3zrw?ref=edinburghminute.com#?date=2026-02-09). 🎓 'Almost 800' **University of Edinburgh** staff left their jobs last year, with 345 the result of a targeted voluntary severance scheme. Union leaders said the 'cuts are clearly damaging the quality of research and teaching', while the university said 'staff numbers fluctuate due to a variety of reasons'. - [Exclusive by Josh Pizzuto-Pomaco in The Herald](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25828844.800-staff-leave-edinburgh-university-amid-140m-cuts-drive/?ref=edinburghminute.com). 🏥 People are being urged to only attend A&E if they have a critical emergency, with **NHS Lothian** warning that its emergency departments are currently under extreme pressure. - [Chloe Goodall, Edinburgh Live](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/nhs-lothian-issue-urgent-plea-33382682?ref=edinburghminute.com). ⚽️ A staff **bank holiday after Scotland’s opening football World Cup match** this summer has been denied by the City of Edinburgh Council. First Minister John Swinney had previously 'encouraged employers nationwide to put in place arrangements'. - [Calum Loudon, STV News](https://news.stv.tv/scotland/which-scottish-councils-have-agreed-to-world-cup-bank-holiday?ref=edinburghminute.com). 🎭 **Festival Fringe** organisers are 'frustrated and disappointed' after being left off the council's new tourist tax income spending plans. - [Brian Ferguson, The Herald](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25834473.tourist-tax-plans-criticised-fringe-pleas-snubbed/?ref=edinburghminute.com). 🏡 The **average local house price** went up 4.3% (year-on-year) to £296,083 for November 2025 - January 2026\. But the number of sales decreased by 8.0%. - [More details from ESPC here](https://espc.com/news/post/house-price-report?ref=edinburghminute.com). ⮑ Meanwhile some people who live near the **Western General** hospital are angry that more flats are being built in an area without enough car parking spaces / too many cars. - [Jacob Farr, Edinburgh Live](https://www.edinburghlive.co.uk/news/edinburgh-news/edinburgh-locals-overrun-nhs-workers-33376075?ref=edinburghminute.com). 🏨 Plans for an apartment-hotel on **Leith Walk** have been approved. - [Brian Donnelly, The Herald](https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/25832249.green-light-new-hotel-famous-scottish-street/?ref=edinburghminute.com). 💰 Ahead of debates on the proposed UK Government's Spring budget, some business owners and organisations in **Leith** have their say on their financial outlook in this piece in *The Edinburgh Inquirer* by Clifford Heberden, titled: '[How Leith Walk will take a hammering from rates](https://open.substack.com/pub/edinburghinquirer/p/how-leith-walk-will-take-a-hammering?utm%5Fcampaign=post-expanded-share&utm%5Fmedium=web)'. [How Leith Walk will take a hammering from ratesAnd what that tells us about the future of our local high streets![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/icon/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F74f9edf5-c126-48ea-85f7-02c0388b3b11-2Fapple-touch-icon-180x180-5.png)The Edinburgh InquirerThe Edinburgh Inquirer![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/thumbnail/https-3A-2F-2Fsubstack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com-2Fpublic-2Fimages-2F62db143a-9e4a-4ebc-8c7a-6373a8fdfe4e_750x493.jpeg)](https://open.substack.com/pub/edinburghinquirer/p/how-leith-walk-will-take-a-hammering?utm%5Fcampaign=post-expanded-share&utm%5Fmedium=web) 🚗 '***DVLA warns ‘nobody wins’ as over 2000 Edinburgh vehicles clamped in 2025***' - [Liam Eunson, Midlothian View](https://www.midlothianview.com/news/dvla-warns-nobody-wins-as-over-2000-edinburgh-vehicles-clamped-in-2025?ref=edinburghminute.com). --- ### 📌 **Edinburgh Minute Community Noticeboard** ⮑ [Please get in touch using this form](https://forms.gle/nn8TZzDCRcWitTvX9?ref=edinburghminute.com). < It’s the only way to get something featured in the newsletter. 📌 “Monday 9 February, 6pm (Nelson Hall on corner of Bernard Terrace and St Leonards Street) - [***Southside Community Council is meeting at Nelson Hall, 5 Spittalfield Crescent***](https://www.sccedinburgh.org.uk/?ref=edinburghminute.com)*. We will be discussing planning issues and our work to develop a Local Place Plan for Southside.* [*Check the agenda on our website*](https://static1.squarespace.com/static/67e2ba738604080ba580c898/t/6982f86a62655f656983a9f1/1770190954805/SCC+Agenda+-+9+February+2026.pdf?ref=edinburghminute.com) *and to join, just turn up!*” - Thanks to Alessandro Fusco, Chair of Southside Community Council, for sharing this. 📌 “[***The parents at St Peter's Primary School have started running a second bike bus route to the school from the Braids***](https://bikebus.org/edinburgh/?ref=edinburghminute.com)*. This second route follows after the success of the 1st route from Newington Library. If you would like a bike bus to your school, contact bike bus organiser* *jarlathflynn@hotmail.com*” - Thanks to Jarlath Flynn, Bike bus organiser, for sharing this. 📌 “[***St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral Bellringers are launching a fundraising campaign for £15,000, for essential repairs on its bells***](https://www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/st%5Fmarys%5Fcathedral%5Fbells?ref=edinburghminute.com) *\- some of which haven't been done since the 1930s! The campaign will run until July 2026 (when the works are planned). All donations are gratefully received!*” - Thanks to Timothy Coleman, St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral, for sharing this, and to Geoffrey Farquharson for the photo: [Repairing the Bells of St Mary’s Episcopal CathedralThe St Mary’s Cathedral bells ring out regularly across the whole West End, bringing sound and pleasure to everyone in the area.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/icon/favicon-16.ico)Stewardship![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/thumbnail/a4dcba737d0c4bb4afaf7183bc83e583.jpg)](https://www.stewardship.org.uk/pages/st%5Fmarys%5Fcathedral%5Fbells?ref=edinburghminute.com) ![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/2026/02/Bells-1---credit-Geoffrey-Farquharson.jpeg) The bells at St Mary’s Episcopal Cathedral. Photo by Geoffrey Farquharson. 📌 “Tuesday 10th February - [***The Caley is hosting another of its free online talks when Ann Lindsay will share stories of the many Scottish plant hunters***](https://www.trybooking.com/uk/events/landing/101712?ref=edinburghminute.com) *from the 17 & 18th centuries that crossed the globe to find many of the plants we have in our gardens today*.” - Thanks to [The Caley](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUX0C22DZrG/?igsh=MzRlODBiNWFlZA%3D%3D&ref=edinburghminute.com) for sharing this. 📌 “Tuesday 10 February. **Fancy a fun, slightly competitive team-building night?** [*Join Ancient Robot Workshop’s “Planes, Trains & Automobiles” Game Jam in Edinburgh*](https://luma.com/cyg9jwe6?ref=edinburghminute.com)*, come solo or get matched into a team. Make a mini tabletop game, meet creative locals, and win a £50 Ancient Robot Games voucher*.” - Thanks to Stuart Wright for sharing this. 📌 “Tuesday 10th February - [***We welcome Anemara to Leith Folk Club***](https://www.facebook.com/events/s/anemara-at-leith-folk-club-tue/1240163151453464/?rdid=bv58Y4g2zMy9hsOf&share%5Furl=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Fshare%2F1CBhvErn8u%2F#)*. Tickets are £15 and can be reserved by emailing* *leithfolkclub@gmail.com* *Further details can be found on our Facebook page*.” - Thanks to Leith Folk Club for sharing this. 📌 “Tuesday 10th to Saturday 14th February - *Enter into the glamorous world of Baltimore theatre for a night of music, dancing and some unexpected guests with* [***Edinburgh University Footlights' production of Kiss Me, Kate! Tickets are available via the link***](https://fienta.com/s/kiss-me-kate?ref=edinburghminute.com)*! Thanks!*” - Thanks to The Edinburgh University Footlights for sharing this. 📌 “Wednesday 11th February (7.30pm start) - [***The Portobello Bookshop team are hosting An Evening with Val McDermid at Assembly Roxy!***](https://www.theportobellobookshop.com/events/an-evening-with-val-mcdermid-silent-bones?ref=edinburghminute.com) *McDermid will be in conversation with Nicola Sturgeon to discuss her latest Karen Pirie novel, Silent Bones. Sign up to join us in person or tune in to the livestream*.” - Thanks to as always to The Portobello Bookshop team for sharing this. [An Evening with Val McDermid at Assembly RoxyPlease come and join us for An Evening with Val McDermid on 11th February, at Assembly Roxy![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/icon/favicon-4.png)![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/thumbnail/event--595944.png)](https://www.theportobellobookshop.com/events/an-evening-with-val-mcdermid-silent-bones?ref=edinburghminute.com) 📌 “Wednesday 11 February. *Online Zoom Forum:* [***Peace Education: Spiritual. Ethical, and Social Foundations***](https://eicsp.org/events/event-details/1352-online-zoom-forum-peace-education-spiritual-ethical-and-social-foundations-11-february-2026/?ref=edinburghminute.com)*. There will be five talks, each of 12 minutes, followed by discussion among the speakers and the chair, followed by Q & A.*” - Thanks to Neill Walker, Edinburgh International Centre for Spirituality and Peace, for sharing this. 📌 “Wednesday 11 February. [***Pilgrimage is the next talk from the Musselburgh Conservation Society***](https://www.facebook.com/groups/433614164533179)*. Tom Brownlee will help us to explore local & international routes, uncovering forgotten routes and considering the health benefits of these popular spiritual journeys. 7:30pm at St Peter's Church Hall*.” - Thanks to Musselburgh Conservation Society for sharing this. 📌 “Wednesday 11 February. *Join Scotland's National Historic Buildings Trust to* [***discuss how the 18th century estates in Edinburgh's outer suburbs now face pressure from modern development***](https://events.humanitix.com/evolving-estates-creating-a-future-for-listed-buildings?ref=edinburghminute.com)*. Lindsay Aitken of Gracemount Mansion Development Trust and Andrew Hopetoun of Hopetoun House discuss this*.” - Thanks to Scottish Historic Buildings Trust for sharing this. [Evolving Estates: Community and Conservation in the Green BeltThis session will discuss the possibilities and problematics that are presented by the largest part of the city: its outer suburbs.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/icon/apple-touch-icon-14.png)Humanitix logo![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/thumbnail/1hpu8ZKRRIKtkU795s6h)](https://events.humanitix.com/evolving-estates-creating-a-future-for-listed-buildings?ref=edinburghminute.com) 📌 “Wednesday 11th February - [***Freelance Adviser Beta Test Launch. Join us at Codebase***](https://www.eventbrite.com/e/freelance-advisor-app-test-launch-tickets-1980636024667??ref=edinburghminute.com) *to help us test our new peer advice app for creative freelancers. Attend the launch event, get great advice for 3 weeks, do a couple of wee surveys, for a chance towin a £30 voucher!*” - Thanks to Holly Patrick-Thomson of Edinburgh Napier University for sharing this. 📌 “Wednesday 11th February: **Coffee and Cake by donation is a relaxed and welcoming get-together at The Open Door*, inviting friends to enjoy good conversation, fresh coffee, and fabulous home baking in a calm, friendly atmosphere where everyone can slow down, reconnect, and feel at home*. ☕🍰” - Thanks to Simon Warr, Operational manager at The Open Door in Morningside, for sharing this. 📌 “Thursday 12 February - [***Join us at the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland for our first BookshopLATE of the year***](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/bookshoplates-british-interior-design-since-1925-tickets-1980629092934?ref=edinburghminute.com)*. Bruce Peter, Professor of Design History at Glasgow School of Art will be discussing his recent book 'British Interior Design since 1925'. Tickets via Eventbrite*.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this. 📌 “Friday 13th February. *Brewhemia, 1A Market Street, Edinburgh EH1 1DE. Join We Are Fun Events UK, a sub-branch of* [***We Are Fun Scientists, for an unforgettable Valentine’s party***](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/valentines-party-love-is-in-the-air-the-lab-tickets-1981601639848?utm-campaign=social&utm-content=attendeeshare&utm-medium=discovery&utm-term=listing&utm-source=wsa&aff=ebdsshwebmobile&ref=edinburghminute.com)*. Expect hands-on activities, live entertainment & moments to laugh, experiment.. & maybe flirt a little!?*” - Thanks to We Are Fun Events for sharing this. 📌 “Saturday 14th February - [***Mark Quinn returns to the Pianodrome for an all vinyl Valentines Day special listening session***](https://www.citizenticket.com/events/pianodrome/vinyl-listening-sessions-04-love-is-everywhere-a-history-of-love-songs/?ref=edinburghminute.com)*. From the emergence of lovers rock to the roots of spiritual jazz he'll be telling stories of the artists who devoted themselves to spreading love through their music*.” - Thanks to [Greenhouse Records](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUYbAs2gij8/?img%5Findex=1&ref=edinburghminute.com) for sharing this. [Vinyl Listening Sessions 04 // Love Is Everywhere: A history of love songs - Buy ticketsMark Quinn digs deep into his record collection to present the fourth of a series of themed listening sessions in the unique in-the-round setting of the Pianodrome. This time it’s a valentine’s special.![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/icon/apple-icon-180x180-2.png)Citizen Ticket![](https://storage.ghost.io/c/92/5b/925b4169-eb49-48f3-a960-edcd9282acd9/content/images/thumbnail/8a76a10d8e27c8afa9.jpg)](https://www.citizenticket.com/events/pianodrome/vinyl-listening-sessions-04-love-is-everywhere-a-history-of-love-songs/?ref=edinburghminute.com) 📌 “Sat 14th February: [***Mini Afternoon Retreat hosted by LUSH and Marpole - who doesn't love a local collab?***](https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/lush-marpole-mini-afternoon-retreat-tickets-1980772965260?aff=oddtdtcreator&ref=edinburghminute.com) *Come along to 378 Leith Walk for a fun afternoon of; painting, hand massages, maing your own Bathbomb and a soothing Soundbath. The perfect treat for yourself or someone you love. £45 per person*.” - Thanks to Marpole & LUSH for sharing this. 📌 “*Forever Edinburgh has teamed up with* [***Civerinos***](https://www.instagram.com/p/DUYdZWJlQyk/?ref=edinburghminute.com) *to launch two limited-edition pizza's for Edinburgh residents to celebrate National Pizza Day.* [***EH postcode holders can get 50% off the pizza's today or take advantage of Resident Rewards offer to get 20% off all full-sized pizza's this month***](https://edinburgh.org/residentrewards/civerinoslocallegendspizzas/?ref=edinburghminute.com).” - Thanks to Forever Edinburgh for sharing this. 📌 “Saturday 14 February – [***Ceilidh Collective host a Valentine’s Ceilidh at Portobello Town Hall***](https://www.tickettailor.com/events/ceilidhcollective/1932341?ref=edinburghminute.com) *with live music, dancing, a bar, kids’ activities and a raffle. Raising funds for Friends of the Earth Scotland and Porty Community Energy. Tickets from £16*.” - Thanks to Ruby, Friends of the Earth Scotland, for sharing this. **📮 Anything missing?** [*Please share your local news and events here*](https://forms.gle/nn8TZzDCRcWitTvX9?ref=edinburghminute.com)*.* --- ### **👀 The most-visited links from the last newsletter:** 1. 🚗 [Locals have their say on congestion charge idea](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S6TeDiadgaI&ref=edinburghminute.com). 2. **🏉** [Scotsman: 20 of the best Edinburgh bars for watching rugby](https://foodanddrink.scotsman.com/drink/edinburgh-bars-for-watching-the-six-nations/?ref=edinburghminute.com). 3. 💰 '[Council’s £1.8m overtime bonanza shared by just 50 staff'](https://theedinburghreporter.co.uk/2026/02/edinburgh-councils-1-8-million-overtime-bonanza-shared-by-just-50-staff/?ref=edinburghminute.com). 4. 📚 [Violence against Edinburgh library workers](https://www.deadlinenews.co.uk/2026/02/05/council-confirms-reports-of-violence-against-edinburgh-library-workers/?ref=edinburghminute.com). 5. 🌱 [Snowdrop weekend at Hopetoun House](https://hopetoun.co.uk/event/snowdrop-weekend-at-hopetoun-house/?ref=edinburghminute.com). [Subscribe for free or upgrade here](https://www.edinburghminute.com/#/portal/signup/) > Don’t want to subscribe but still keen to show your support? Please like this post or put a coin/note into the [tip jar](https://buy.stripe.com/7sI4iz3fdbUgch2288?ref=edinburghminute.com) below. It all helps keep the Minute ticking over. Thanks! [💚 Tip jar 💚](https://buy.stripe.com/7sI4iz3fdbUgch2288?ref=edinburghminute.com) ⏰ *Thanks for reading edition number *834.** 📬 *Free subscribers: *28,400+.** 📲 *Visits generated for local news sources: *2,500,000+*.* ---