STV continue the airtime and column inches devoted to The Lockerbie Bomber. Apparently the US government wanted him released all the time – according to this report of an interview with First Minister Alex Salmond, in which The First Minister calls for all files to be released. Kenny McAskill is on Youtube by way of ITN telling us why he won’t be going to the US.
When the Royal Infirmary was in the centre of town, it was an institution. Now it is a faceless white building on the edge of town in a location that some residents only have a vague idea of. Well that’s all in the past now. The hospital moved out and the developers moved in to Lauriston Place leaving behind only the wonderful Eye Pavilion, the Dental Hospital and the Blood Transfusion Service lingering behind. There was a great vision for the old buildings on the northern edge of the Meadows and some innovation for the spaces in between. The building work started over five years ago. Then there was a recession. Banks went bust, as did some notable building companies in Scotland like Applecross, which was responsible for some large housing developments in the capital.
So in light of the recession is it any wonder that the Quartermile development on the site of the former hospital is only a quarter finished? Well The Scotsman seems to think it disgraceful in some way. Perhaps they would have preferred the development company to go into earthshattering liquidation, allowing for more lurid headlines. They finish their article by saying that there are many commercial units lying empty – but there are of course a few which are occupied – including Sainsburys and Starbucks and some big firms of lawyers in the office blocks. Not inconsiderable tenants really……so where’s the problem with the developer Gladedale taking its time to complete the important development? Does it not make commercial sense? What do you think?
And a bit more on the Gormley statues in the Water of Leith here on STV. And you can see the video when the figures were installed only a month ago in June 2010.
