The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 4 February 2026

Decision day for 'green' data centre at South Gyle, Voi bikes now available in Stockbridge, environmental concerns at Granton beach + applications open for Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab

The Edinburgh Minute ⏰ Wednesday 4 February 2026

🌤️ Good morning Edinburgh. Plenty happening today, but if I've missed anything or you've got an event to share, please get in touch. Here’s Wednesday's Edinburgh Minute.

🔋 Councillors are due to vote today on controversial plans for a 'green AI data centre' at South Gyle. The development would be built at the site of the former RBS office at Redheughs Avenue. - There's more context in this report by Ross Chalmers of Deadline News.

🗳️ Also on today's planning meeting agenda:


🚲 Electric hire bike operator Voi has announced another expansion, this time into the north west of the city. Bikes are now available in Stockbridge, Crewe Toll and Newhaven. - Liam Eunson, Midlothian View.

🚔 Members of the public are urged to get in touch with police if they see convicted sex offender Huseyin Simsek (50), who was last seen in the Dalry Road area in 18 January. - Keiran Fleming, STV News.

🚒 Firefiighter Barry Martin was 'unprepared and under-equipped' when he tackled the 2023 Jenners department store fire that killed him, according to his widow. - Kevin Scott, STV News.

💰 Money raised by Edinburgh's upcoming tourist tax could be used to fund extra police officers for the city centre. - Ian Swanson, Evening News.

🌊 Scientists who carried out a study of Granton beach say as much as half of some coarse sediments may consist of human-made materials such as brick, concrete, glass and industrial waste, blaming dumping and climate breakdown. - Rosie Peters-McDonald, The Guardian.

🛟 Two kayakers were rescued by the Queensferry Lifeboat crew yesterday afternoon, after one capsized near the Forth Road Bridge. "The pair had been drifting up-river with the flooding tide, with the casualty struggling in the water for about 15 minutes unable to self-recover," - said RNLI Queensferry Lifeboat.


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📌 “Thursday 5th February - Join us on 5th February for our last Women Healing Art Circle on the season at the Salisbury Centre! A gentle, welcoming space for self-identifying women to slow down, reflect, and express through creativity. No art experience needed — just come as you are.” - Thanks to Gabriella for sharing this.

📌 “Tea Ceilidhs, every Thursday from 2:00pm - 3:45pm at Marchmont St Giles' Church, 3 Kilgraston Road. £6 (cash on door). Great live music from Stan Reeves + Friends. Butterflies Cafe tea/coffee and cake!!! Buses 9, 24 and 5 nearby.” - Thanks to Stan Reeves for sharing this.

📌 “The Scottish Youth Film Foundation and NFTS are now accepting applications for year 2 of the Sean Connery Youth Talent Lab! Aged 17-22 and looking to take the next step in your filmmaking journey? Check out www.syff.scot/scytl for more info.” - Thanks to Scottish Youth Film Foundation for sharing this.

@scottishyouthfilmfoundation on Instagram.

📌 “Sunday 8 February: Take part in a hands-on willow weaving workshop in Morningside, Edinburgh. We will be creating a variety of open and fully woven willow hearts as wall, door or table decorations. Learn a new skill and take home your hearts to gift to others or a gift for yourself, perfectly timed for Valentines day!” - Thanks to Koren Willow, weaver and eco-coffin creator from Away with Willow, for sharing this.

📌 “Monday 9 February, 6.30pm: 'Rescuing Buildings at risk in Northern Ireland. Karen Latimer, OBE, of Hearth speaks of groundbreaking, challenging projects in Northern Ireland and asks if there are lessons to be learnt for Scotland. Augustine United Church, 41 George IV Bridge, A.H.S.S.” - Thanks to Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland for sharing this.

📌 “Tuesday 10 February at The Edinburgh Bookshop, Bruntsfield: Author Alison Belsham discusses working with different publishers (traditional, independent, digital first) and how to navigate an industry focused on short-term deals, and why she shifted genres for her 10th novel. At The Edinburgh Bookshop from 7pm for a 7:30 start, ticket includes a drink.” - Thanks to Edinburgh Writers' Forum for sharing this.

📌 “🏳️‍⚧️ Leith-based social enterprise Studio Lutalica's Designing for Trans+ Futures campaign ends TOMORROW! We're raising £5000 to empower trans-led projects and initiatives through design. We're now a third of the way there! Can you help us reach our target this LGBTQ+ History Month? 🌈” - Thanks to Danielle Mustarde, Studio Lutalica CIC, for sharing this.

📌 “Thurs 12 Feb - Discover how wireless technology is revolutionising our way of life with Professor Gerhard Fettweis at the University of Edinburgh’s Milne Lecture. Hear about the possibilities of advanced wireless technologies in connecting people with intelligent machines and autonomous systems.” - Thanks to the School of Engineering team at The University of Edinburgh for sharing this.

Milne Lecture: Professor Gerhard Fettweis, Mobile Communication Systems | School of Engineering | School of Engineering
Wireless technology has become a vital global tool. Nearly every aspect of how we communicate, interact, pay, navigate, and travel relies on wireless connectivity. Join Professor Gerhard Fettweis for a Milne Lecture that will explore the transformative potential of advanced wireless technologies. He will outline emerging opportunities and share a vision for a truly new wireless world – one that connects people with intelligent machines and autonomous systems, transforming society.

📌 “Sunday 15 February - Good Time Yoga presents Yoga for Runners at Up & Running Edinburgh. Come and join us for yoga and a test run round the West End - finishing up with great coffee and tasty treats with good folk. Absolute beginners absolutely welcome!” - Thanks to Sim from Good Time Running Club / Up & Running for sharing this.

📌 “We need volunteer drivers 25–75 with a full license for 2 years to provide safe, comfortable transport for older people, including those with dementia or mobility needs. Drive our 8-seat electric vehicle with wheelchair lift to get to and from The Open Door day services.” - Thanks to Simon Warr, Operational manager at The Open Door, for sharing this.

📌 “Thur 12 Feb, 7pm - February's community cinema at Duncan Place Community Hub will be a screening of six short films from new documentary filmmakers in Scotland & Northern Ireland, as part of the Scottish Documentary Institute's 2025 Bridging the Gap programme. £4 tickets, hot drinks included.” - Thanks to Ot at Duncan Place Community Hub for sharing this.

Community Cinema: Bridging the Gap Shorts
. For this screening we are delighted to be showing several short films from the Scottish Documentary Institute&#39;s 2025&nbsp;Bridging the Gap&nbsp;programme, which focus on the theme &#39;Influence&#39;.&nbsp;Bridging the Gap is a training programme designed to support and inspire documentary talent in Scotland and Northern Ireland.This event is for adults aged 18+.&nbsp;Film synopses:Between Us (2025)A mother and her four-year-old son navigate the emotional terrain of migration through a shared camera, capturing fleeting moments, quiet fears, and enduring love in an attempt to preserve their shared heritage before it fadesDirector: Maryam HaddadiProducer: Ilinca CalugareanuFilm running time: 18mGenre: Documentary, ShortLanguage: Persian (Farsi), English&nbsp;Subtitles:&nbsp;English SDHContent Warning: RacismEach to their Own World (2025)Filmmaker Klarissa Webster offers intimate insight into the lives of deaf people, who were all raised with spoken English. Experience a taste of their lives navigating social norms and clashing cultures in a society built for a &ldquo;fully abled&rdquo; person.Director: Klarissa WebsterProducer: Reece CarganFilm running time: 17mGenre: Documentary, ShortLanguage: BSL, EnglishSubtitles: English SDHContent Warning: AbleismMother&#39;s Influence (2025)Growing up with an unconventional single mother &ndash; an influencer navigating aging and body dysmorphia &ndash; Meg admires her but questions how it shaped her own self-image. Through laughter and vulnerability, they unpack identity, influence, and the complexities of their evolving relationship.Director: Meg WrigglesProducer: Lea Luiz de OliveiraFilm running time: 14mGenre: Documentary, ShortLanguage: EnglishSubtitles: English SDHContent Warning: Domestic violence, partial nudity, Eating disordersWater to the Wall (2025)A portrait of an island community through time, where the sea has always defined life. Water to the Wall depicts Orkney&#39;s tidal rhythms alongside current footage of the Ba&#39; - an ancient game of street football - to explore the parallels between Orkney&#39;s traditions and it&#39;s tides. Water To The Wall explores how islanders live alongside the ebb and flow, a&nbsp;rhythmic portrait of a place and its people.Director: Becky MansonProducer: Marissa KeatingFilm running time: 13mGenre: Documentary, ShortLanguage: Scots, EnglishSubtitles: English SDHThe Militant Homosexual Evangelist (2025)A queer protestor pursues meaning in standoff with Belfast&rsquo;s preachers. Brian challenges the religious homophobia of Belfast&rsquo;s street preachers while questioning his own faith and activism to reconcile his queer identity with his religious beliefs. This documentary explores his fight for acceptance, love, and equality in a country grappling with tradition and change.Director: Eva BabingtonFilm running time: 16mGenre: Documentary,&nbsp;ShortLanguage: EnglishSubtitles: English SDHContent Warning: HomophobiaCommunity Theatre (2025)A local community theatre brings to life stories from three generations of a quiet working-class town in Scotland. Through the voices of its people, the play celebrates shared heritage, resilience and the enduring spirit of place.Director: Lewis BaillieProducer: Rohan CrickmarFilm running time: 13mGenre: Documentary, ShortLanguage: Scots, EnglishSubtitles: English SDH&nbsp;Thanks to Alex from Scottish Documentary Institute for the support in organising access to these brilliant short films, which we hope resonate with our cinema community.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;RefreshmentsTea, coffee, soft drinks and popcorn will be available.&nbsp;&nbsp;Small cash donations towards refreshements are welcome but not required.You can also bring your own soft drinks or snacks, however&nbsp;no alcohol is permitted. Please also refrain from bringing any hot or strong smelling food items. Thank you.Duncan Place Access InformationPlease let us know if you have any access needs e.g. if you require a seat with armrests, if you need space for a wheelchair, or if there is anything else that you think we should know.&nbsp;&nbsp;There is ramped access into the building. The event will be held on the ground floor of Duncan Place Community Hub and is wheelchair accessible.There are two individual toilets on the ground floor with one being wheelchair accessible.We have a mix of padded seats and&nbsp;hard plastic seats. Seats with arm rests are also available if needed. We have a limited supply of chair cushions available on request.There is foyer space and outdoor space for those that might need to break away to a quieter area during the film.We also have a page on the Euan&#39;s Guide website here, including a video showing entry to the building.&nbsp;&nbsp;If there is anything we can do to help your visit, or if you&#39;d like a chat about the space beforehand, please get in touch by emailing&nbsp;events@duncanplace.org&nbsp;or phoning 0131 364 4351.&nbsp;Getting HereWe can be found on Google Maps here &gt;&nbsp;https://goo.gl/maps/qNZeEKWL1uhdQRBd7Duncan Place is a few minutes&rsquo; walk from Leith Walk, Duke Street, Great Junction Street and Easter Road. This area is very well served with buses, including 1, 7, 14, 16, 21, 25, 34, 35 &amp; 49.www.lothianbuses.com&nbsp;has a journey planner.The closest tram stop is Foot Of The Walk.Bike racks are available in our outdoor space. Please bring a secure lock. We do not have any to loan out &amp; bikes and scooters are not allowed in the building. Bikes and scooters are left at your own risk and Duncan Place will not accept any responsibility for any damage or theft. CCTV does cover the bike racks.Duncan Place has 1 disabled parking space and 1 further space alongside the exterior fencing, both available on a first come basis.Parking bays have been painted on the road outside the building and on-street (card only) pay and display meters have been installed by City of Edinburgh Council, at a rate of &pound;3.80 per hour, Monday to Friday 8:30am until 5:30pm. Onstreet parking outside our building is currently free at weekends.&nbsp;There are also yellow zig zags on the street. Again, please check signage but at the time of writing it is free to park on the zigs zags after 4pm Mon to Fri and all day on the weekends.&nbsp;Duncan Place is part of the Local Cinema network.Local Cinema is a network of community cinemas across Edinburgh,&nbsp;led by WHALE Arts. They support film screenings co-curated with and for local communities across a range of community spaces in the city, including WHALE Arts; North Edinburgh Arts, Duncan Place Community Hub, Out of the Blue Drill Hall, Space @ Broomhouse Hub, Craigmillar Now and The Crannie Community Hub. The latest Local Cinema shared community cinema programme runs from August 2025 &ndash; March 2026. Tickets available directly at venues or via this&nbsp;link:&nbsp;https://linktr.ee/localcinemaedin&nbsp;Local Cinema is supported by the City of Edinburgh Council.

📌 “Tuesday 17 February - Free event offering practical guidance on Powers of Attorney, property and care planning for families affected by dementia. Ralph Sayer, in partnership with The Dementia Trust, invite you to an evening session designed to provide clear, supportive advice.” - Thanks to the organisers for sharing this.

📌 “Holyrood Distillery is delighted to announce the relaunch of ‘EH Evenings’ for 2026, in partnership with Edinburgh Food Project! Taking place every Sunday at 4.30pm, we're offering spaces for EH residents on our classic Tour and Tasting for just £5 - which will be donated in full to EFP.” - Thanks to Holyrood Distillery for sharing this.

📌 “Friday 20 February - Chorister pre-audition afternoon. Come and sing! Discover life as a chorister at St Mary’s Music School. Being a chorister at St Mary’s Music School offers children a combination of outstanding musical training and a first-class academic education (for P4 pupils only).” - Thanks to St Mary's Music School for sharing this.

📮 Anything missing? Please share your local news and events here.


  1. 🍻 Leith Social Club pub put up for sale.
  2. 🚗 Map of petrol prices, made by 'Spurtleshire resident Dion'.
  3. 💉 Test results confirm Edinburgh Live reporters bought heroin.
  4. 🤳 'Keep Edinburgh Thriving' duo split as tax & supplier debt revealed.
  5. 🚉  Interactive map showing 'concept' of new tram network.
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