Five things you need to know today

Waverley access – Armed Robbery – Plans for another teahouse in the city centre – Gordon Strachan – Royal Blind fundraiser

Yesterday’s Transport & Environment Committee meeting decided to proceed with the plans for an improved access to Waverley Station which the council have been discussing with Network Rail who own the station. One of the fears was that taxis would no longer be allowed into the station following security alerts in recent years elsewhere in the country. Other stations throughout the UK have stopped cars entering the main station concourse, but Network Rail now seems to agree that cars and taxis may continue to have access to the concourse in Edinburgh. Cars will have 30 minutes free parking for dropping off passengers using trains, and taxis will have much the same facility as at present with additional spaces on Waverley Bridge at certain times of day. The plans have to be finalised and will perhaps be the result of the passenger audit which is being carried out between now and the end of February.

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There was an armed robbery at the new jeweller’s store in the Assembly Rooms yesterday. More details here.

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The council’s Finance & Budget committee meets tomorrow at the City Chambers. This is the final meeting ahead of the all-important Budget meeting of the full council on 7 February. You can read all the papers for the meeting here. One of the  items up for approval is a lease of 250 Canongate to the owners of Mimi’s Teahouse who already have a shop down on The Shore. Always good news to have another tea house in the city centre.

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Gordon Strachan is the new Scotland manager and our John Hislop has written an article about the Edinburgh born footballer and now football manager here.

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