Greenpeace demo – Terrorist arrest – City centre Traffic management – Fringe App – CHAS Big Picnic
Greenpeace have occupied Shell garages across Edinburgh this morning, stopping them from selling petrol. John Hislop has been to Dalry Road and we will be bringing you his full report shortly.
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One of Spain’s most wanted criminals has been arrested in Edinburgh and will appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court this morning. Benat Atorrasagasti Ordonez was apprehended in Leith on Friday where he may have been living (under his own name) for about 10 years according to The Daily Record.
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The council have reported that Broughton Street has reopened to traffic this weekend as the next major programme of city centre tram works gets underway on York Place.
“This follows the completion of essential utility works between Broughton Street and Cathedral Lane.
As previously announced, the latest phase of works require the introduction of new traffic management arrangements and, from Saturday, bus-only restrictions now apply between North St Andrew Street and Broughton Street. General traffic will be diverted via Queen Street Gardens, Abercromby Place, Albany Street and Broughton Street – and vice versa. (See full details and a map.)
Access to the bus station from Elder Street will be maintained throughout this next phase for buses only. All other traffic will use Little King Street to access the St. James Centre car parks and Elder Street.
Transport convener, Councillor Lesley Hinds, said:- “Following the reopening of Princes Street last weekend, the start of work on the final section of the tram route is another important step forward for the project.
“I am acutely aware of the concerns that local residents and businesses have as to the effect these works will have on traffic in the city centre and we will continue to take their views into consideration.
“The team will consider any measure with the potential to reduce disruption and, as work progresses, our plans will remain under constant review.”
It is anticipated that the next phase of works will commence in late September. This will see York Place closed to all traffic between North St Andrew Street and Broughton Street, coinciding with the introduction of a single signalised bus lane on Princes Street at the junction of Waverley Bridge and South St Andrew Street.
Discussions are ongoing with bus station management and operators regarding alternative arrangements during the temporary closure of the bus station. Further information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.”
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Tickets for shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe can now be bought through the Fringe App for iPhone and Android smartphones.
This is the third year that the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society have developed an App in conjunction with Edinburgh based developer Kotikan. Last year the Fringe App, , was downloaded over 45,000 times, a figure the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society hope to build on this year.
Kath M Mainland, the Chief Executive of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Society said:
“We think this app makes us the biggest mobile box office in the world. It allows anyone with an iPhone or an Android phone to buy tickets for the shows that make up the 2012 Edinburgh Festival Fringe.”
“It’s very simple, you can buy tickets for a show on the app and then collect the physical tickets from our collection points at the Fringe Box Offices on the High Street, at Glasgow Queen Street Station, at the Virgin Money Half Price Hut and at the University of Edinburgh Visitor’s Centre on Bristo Square.
“You can use the app to navigate your way around the 279 venues putting on events this August. The app will tell you which shows are starting soon, which shows are closest to you and which shows are available at the Virgin Money Half Price Hut each day.”
Gavin Dutch, CEO of Kotikan said:
“This August, Kotikan and the Edinburgh Festival Fringe are hoping to build on the success of last year. We’re massively excited about the Fringe this year and we hope the app helps people get the most out of it.”
The app allows people to organise their Fringe events with My Festival planner and share details with friends on Facebook and Twitter.
There are also details on all the shows selling tickets at the Virgin Money Half Price Hut as well information on the show happening next and the show that’s happening nearest to the phone’s user.
The app is free to download and is available from the iTunes Store, Google Play andwww.kotikan.com.
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Children’s Hospice Association Scotland (CHAS) the charity that provides the only children’s hospice services in Scotland is inviting the public to bring their lunch and join in a big picnic this Friday 20 July 2012 at St Andrew Square Gardens.
Supported by Essential Edinburgh, the picnic from 12-2pm, will launch ‘Time for CHAS’ a new campaign encouraging families, friends and colleagues to spend time together raising money for CHAS. Everyone attending on 20 July will be asked to donate the money they would normally spend on their lunch to CHAS who run two children’s hospices, Rachel House and Robin House and a homecare service across Scotland called CHAS at Home.
CHAS Fundraiser Kirsten Dugan said: “Time for CHAS encourages everyone to have fun doing something for CHAS, whether that’s putting on their own event, taking part in someone else’s or simply donating to CHAS. We’re kicking off the campaign with our St Andrew Square picnic and hope to see a big crowd in the gardens.”
To find out more and download a leaflet of fundraising ideas to support the campaign visit www.chas.org.uk or call 0131 444 1900.
Founding Editor of The Edinburgh Reporter.
Edinburgh-born multimedia journalist and iPhoneographer.
