It’s back! The Cameo cinema in Tollcross has reintroduced its Curated By strand which allows prominent locals to have a film of their choice screened there.

On 25 August it is the turn of artist John Byrne who has chosen The Red Shoes.

Starring the late Moira Shearer who lived latterly in Edinburgh’s Upper Dean Terrace, this is a great choice of a classic film. But beware it is a little dark in places too!

Tickets here for the one off showing on 25 August 2016 at 21:00

Police are appealing for witnesses after a suspicious fire in Bonnyrigg.

The incident happened at around 4.40am on Sunday morning 14th August at a house in Chester Grove in Bonnyrigg where a fire took place around the front door of the dwelling.

Two fire crews put out the blaze, and the house suffered extensive smoke damage.

Detective Constable Brian O’Neill from Dalkeith CID said: “This could have had tragic consequences. Thankfully, the occupier was out at the time of the attack and as a result was unhurt.

“Enquiries are ongoing and anyone who remembers seeing anything suspicious in the Chester Grove area of Bonnyrigg during Saturday night or the early hours of Sunday morning is urged to contact police immediately.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

A large and energetic protest began around 10 am this morning outside the Central Halls in Tollcross where an Israeli cultural fringe event is being held.

The event, called the Shalom Festival, celebrates Israeli music, food and culture and aims to promote peace and understanding by “building cultural bridges” between Israel and Scotland.

I went down to @ShalomFestival on Tollcross today to find out what it was about + speak to the people protesting it pic.twitter.com/PuoIjkbsYL

— Ailean Beaton (@AileanBeaton) August 17, 2016

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The event has been put on by volunteers and the pro-Israel organisation Stand With Us features various stalls showcasing Israeli products and demonstrations of traditional cooking and martial arts. The event is set to run throughout the day and into the evening, concluding at 10pm.

The protest in response has been staged by various organisations including Scottish Solidarity with Palestine campaign and the Edinburgh Radical Communist group. Activists were seen waving Palestinian flags, which also adorned many streetlights and railings, and chanting slogans such as “Your tickets are covered with Palestinian blood” as well as shouting “Shame on you” at visitors to the event.

Mick Napier, leader of the SSP group said: “We know our protest will send a message to Palestinians that they are not alone; Israel can kill them, imprison them and torture them but it is Israel that feels international isolation and the Palestinians who have populist support.”

The protestors also made accusations that the Israeli embassy had funded the Shalom Festival.

Nigel Goodrich, lead organiser of the event denied any such funding from the Israeli government. Speaking on the protests outside his event, Goodrich said:

“Politics should have no role in art at all. I’m all for peaceful protest, and I’m glad that so far the protest has been peaceful… We want to have dialogue with anybody and they’re welcome to come along and enjoy the performances.”

For an unprecedented third day in a row our photographer attended the various photo calls at the EIBF. Highlights of today’s list were Jackie Kay and Carol Ann Duffy , the current and previous, Scottish Poet Laureate or Makar.

• Today at the Edinburgh Interational Book Festival
• One More Time with Feeling coming to Edinburgh in September
• The Show must go on! 
• Therapy Ponies Scotland
• Kwik Fit set up new training programme

Today is indeed a day for big names. Beginning with Mariella Frostrup at 10:00 who is recording a session of Open Book for Radio 4 so even if you can’t get a ticket for today you will be able to listen to it later.

A L Kennedy has written a novel after a four year break and in Serious Sweet we are promised a love story with a good-hearted civil servant and a bankrupt accountant among the characters.

The University of Edinburgh Event at 13.30 features Carol-Ann Duffy and Jackie Kay. The Poet Laureate and the Makar will discuss poetry to a musical accompaniment by John Sampson.

Later in the afternoon Roy Hattersley a former UK Government Minister and one of former Prime Minister, Harold Wilson’s fiercest critics will talk about the time and the man.

Alexander McCall Smith will be on at much the same time as Val McDermid making the decision a difficult one for Edinburgh residents wanting to be faithful to local authors! However McDermid is chairing a discussion between Richard T Kelly and Mark Lawson, rather than talking about her own work.

Susan Tomes a locally based classical pianist will talk about her four books about making music. There may we understand be some tinkling of the ivories!

Do remember that if you don’t have tickets there is a returns queue for every event. You may be lucky!

Feature film One More Time With Feeling will screen in cinemas for one night only on 8th September, launching the new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album Skeleton Tree.

The first opportunity anyone will have to hear any of the songs from the new Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds album, Skeleton Tree, will be to watch the feature film One More Time With Feeling, directed by Andrew Dominik (Chopper, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford, Killing Them Softly). 

The film will be shown in a select 150 cinemas across the UK and Ireland (check listings below for your nearest participating cinemas) and more than 850 cinemas worldwide on 8th September 2016, immediately prior to the release of Skeleton Tree the following day.

In Edinburgh the film will be shown at The Filmhouse, Lothian Road. 

The old saying, The Show Must Go On, came true for Edinburgh writer Robin Mitchell when a key cast member dropped out of his Edinburgh Festival Fringe play Princess Pumpalot: The Radio Show – Live on Stage! due to illness with only 48 hours until the opening show.

Several attempts were made to secure another actor to take the part in the play at Sweet Venues but to no avail, so Robin stepped onto the boards to save the day.

“People keep telling me it should be easy as the writer of Princess Pumpalot but I keep telling them, it’s one thing writing a play, it’s a completely different thing learning the script, rehearsing and performing it in 48 hours”, said Robin.

Princess Pumpalot: The Farting Princess returns to the Edinburgh Festival Fringe for a fourth consecutive year in a brand new show, Princess Pumpalot: The Radio Show – Live on Stage! Performed in the style of a radio play and based on characters from Robin’s successful children’s book, this fast paced, fun packed show is for all the family.

“The first show has come and gone and although at times we were sailing close to the wind, I must say I really enjoyed it”, said Robin. “I might consider doing it again but perhaps next time with more notice”.

Residents at a care home in Edinburgh have been horsing around thanks to an in-house visit from Therapy Ponies Scotland.

Bupa’s Braid Hills care home, on Liberton Drive, welcomed the Shetland ponies into the home, giving the residents the chance to hold and touch the animals and learn about their new miniature friends.

Residents were encouraged to interact with the two ponies – named Herbie and Flicker – both of which have been highly trained to handle any situation.

Animal-assisted therapy has been shown to have significant benefits for care home residents, especially those with dementia, as physical contact with the animals is therapeutic, stimulates a social response and reduces stress.

Stephen Hagan, Home Manager at Bupa’s Braid Hills care home, was delighted with how well the session with Herbie and Flicker was received.

He said: “It was a really entertaining day for everyone involved and all the residents adored having the ponies with us at the home, as did the staff and our visitors that were in at the time.

“As well as being fun and interesting, animal therapy is also especially beneficial for our residents as it is relaxing and can also be a very social activity. Herbie and Flicker really lifted everyone’s spirits and were adorable.

“Here at Braid Hills, we try to enrich the lives of our residents as much as possible and the visit from Therapy Ponies Scotland is just one example of how we aim to do this.”

Kwik Fit, the automotive repair company, has partnered with Action for Children Scotland to create a new training programme to help disadvantaged young people from Corstorphine in exploring careers in the automotive engineering industry.

In June 2016, under the Science Technology Engineering and Maths (STEM) contract, Action for Children Scotland teamed up with Kwik Fit to create the six week training programme designed to assist young people to explore the automotive engineering industry. Trainees will be supported to complete a work placement opportunity and create a CV to capture all the knowledge, skills and experience gained. Care support will be provided to assist participants to secure employment, education or further opportunities.

Eight young people have completed the programme after four weeks of employability workshops followed by two weeks on placement. The group spent a full day at Kwik Fit’s Broxburn Training Academy for hands on experience where they learnt to jack up vehicles, remove and refit a tyre, balance wheels and check tyre pressure. After completing the programme, each member of the group now has certifications in Manual Handling and Safety Awareness – which are both recognised by employers.

Action for Children Scotland provides a series of employability workshop programmes for socially excluded 16 to 24 year olds across Scotland. The organisation provides a range of industry led training, SQA qualifications and workshops focusing on personal development.

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‘No, we’re not doing any Brexit stuff’ says comedian Paul Merton as he delves into the suggestion box during Paul Merton’s Impro Chums at the Pleasance. ‘There’s been too much of that recently and we need time to come out of it’

And who could blame him? Merton and his highly talented chums – Suki Webster (aka the present Mrs Merton), Richard Vranch, Lee Simpson and Mike McShane – don’t need the recent political upheaval in the UK to demonstrate their extraordinary talent.

For those who remember Whose Line Is It Anyway, an improvisation television show in the 1990s, the idea of comic actors improvising and creating highly amusing scenarios will be familiar. Paul Merton’s Impro Chums is very much based on the format of the successful television show with the beauty being the audience doesn’t know what is coming next – just like those on stage.

The performers take suggestions from the audience and perform their sketches around this. As an example, the audience on Tuesday afternoon suggested a sketch be based on someone who writes road signs for a living – in Welsh, using only his fingernails whilst wearing a scuba diving suit. Merton was wearing headphones when these suggestions were shouted out and so he had to guess from the actions of his ‘chums’ just what he was supposed to be. It was funny and captivating.

Messrs Merton, Vranch, Simpson and McShane have almost perfected the art of making it look as if they know what is coming and use their undoubted talents accordingly. However, for this writer, the star of the show is Suki Webster who made her improvisation look natural and effortless. Nothing seemed to throw her and her brilliant take on Shakespeare had her husband, fellow performers and the majority of the audience laughing heartily in approval.

Many comic actors need a script when they take to the stage as something of a comfort zone but Merton and his highly talented chums have been doing this sort of thing for years. What impressed me was the teamwork evident between all five performers. There was no room for egos – Merton himself was as much a target for his chum’s merriment at the odd struggle or two as the other four.

It is a very clever show and, at times, its cleverness can take something away from the cutting edge, hoots of laughter that is evident at other shows. Nonetheless, Paul Merton’s Impro Chums is definitely worth seeing. But you better be quick – the show ends at the Pleasance Grand Theatre this Sunday.

Tickets here

Edinburgh Reporter Review: ***

Political journalists Alex Bell and Dominic Hinde hit the ground running at the Edinburgh International Book Festival with fighting talk and a political platform discussing where Scotland goes from here.

Chaired by political author and journalist David Torrance, both Bell and Hinde provided eloquent arguments on how we can make the world a better place.

With his Scandinavian background, Hinde referred to his new text, A Utopia Like Any Other, to provide something journalistic in terms of the Nordic model, but with elements of academia.

Incorporating accessible utopian ideas, he mentioned that the book was the provide context for argument, in a discursive essayist format. Part travelogue, part academic primer and part reflection on our own need for utopias, the book takes readers on a journey from the 1930s to the present day and from an Arctic iron mine to the suburbs of Shanghai. It tackles each of the things Sweden is famous for; however providing more weighting on each than the standard eight hundred word articles that we are acquainted with.

Alex Bell, former BBC news presenter and correspondent, paced the stage in a pale yellow suit, as he condemned the politics of the Scottish National Party. His new book, The People We Could Be, considers what we need to do to prepare for the future, looking at how the two recent referendums on independence from the UK (2014) and that from Europe (2016) and how they are relevant to this, as there can be no such thing as independence in the modern world.

Alex Bell argued: “We have no choice but to change. The referenda of 2014 and 2016 have stemmed from global politics.” He exclaimed : “The state we presently run is unaffordable. Change rests within your own independence and own anger.” Not short of opinion, Bell articulated : “The whole of Europe is going through need for process of change. Great Britain is going through the aftermath of a crisis but not quite knowing what that crisis was.”

In terms of Scotland, Bell pointed out : “We are empowered, we have our identity. In terms of poverty and inequality, we are getting better and we are shifting things.” Hinde looked at inequality, saying: “Economic growth in Scotland will not see equality – look at Aberdeen for example – lots of jobs, but massive inequalities.”

Despite not providing a clear conclusion the two opened up an interesting discussion and provoked the Book Festival audience on a Monday afternoon.

For more on their arguments, A Utopia Like Any Other is already out on Luath Press, and The People We Could Be is out very soon on 18^th August, also published by Luath.

Chaired by the nation’s makar, the enthusiastic Jackie Kay, Ali Smith took to the stage on Saturday to discuss her new and exciting work, Autumn.

Multi-award-winning novelist Ali Smith gave the audience a wonderful sneak preview of this new novel, an installment in a quartet of novels, which looks at humans being formed by time, all named and related to the seasons of the year.

As the two shared their love of reading, readers, writing and each other on stage, it was easy to see why this theatre was packed out. Smith read from this volume, which was clearly a visceral account of the aftermath of the recent Brexit vote.

“I just wrote down what was happening,” said Smith. Poetic in format, its impact was fierce.  She continued: “All across the country media was insane, politicians lied, politicians fell apart… All across the country money, money money, all across the country no money no money no money.”

An anticipated eruptious applause followed, as the crowd recognised that the text acknowledged bereavement and Brexit within the country. Jackie Kay brought it directly back to Scotland: “Being in Scotland has probably never felt more different than being in England.”

Admitting that the beginning of Autumn is an adaptation of Homer’s Odyssey, both Kay and Smith swiftly moved on to the act of writing with Smith noting that it’s a “precarious business” and that “storytelling is always hospitable” as they discuss the role of the reader. Smith reminds us that the novel has an “exchange in the story, which welcomes you in in the first place,” and the two focussed on how the work of the reader is as important as that of the writer.

After being indulged by this sneak preview reading and the insightful Q&A, a wonderful discussion between Kay and Smith flowed organically, thus hinting at their close friendship, one which means Kay was able to boast about having already read the not-yet-published Autumn.

And after hearing such beautiful prose, I would too if in Kay’s shoes.

Autumn is set for release on 20 October 2016.

Police have confirmed that Anthony Ferrie who escaped from a G4S security van after a hospital appointment has been arrested in Bellshill, North Lanarkshire.

Ferrie had been to St John’s Hospital in Livingston  on Thursday August 4.

A statement from Police Scotland said: “Police Scotland can confirm that Anthony Ferrie has been arrested after making off from St John’s Hospital in Livingston on Thursday, August 4.

“The 33-year-old will appear at Livingston Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

Another day, another tranche of authors. Frederick Forsyth and Edna O’Brien were the big names on the grey carpet today. Ian Rankin seemed to come along for the ride.

Police are investigating after an 87-year-old man was robbed in Charlotte Square.

The incident occurred yesterday  at around 4.30pm when a man approached the victim, who walks with the aid of two sticks, and offered to assist him.

The 87-year-old then felt the man attempt to remove his wallet and, after a struggle, this was successful.  An onlooker chased the suspect and retrieved the wallet, however a three-figure-sum of money was removed.

Officers are now looking to trace the man responsible and are appealing to the public for information.
The suspect is described as white man with a tanned complexion.  He is around 5ft 11” in height and has short dark hair.  He was wearing a black leather jacket, a green or grey round neck t-shirt and blue jeans.

Detective Inspector Grant Johnston said:  “This was an appalling attack on an elderly gentleman, who was been left very distressed by this incident.

“We are eager to trace the man responsible.  We would urge anyone who may have seen the man described, or who has any information which can help with our investigation, to contact either police or Crimestoppers as soon as possible.”

Those with information regarding this incident can contact Police Scotland on 101 or anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

This is strong stuff for a Tuesday morning at 10am, but it was gripping, and deserved more than 30 people in the audience. It is probably not for everyone, but if you are at all interested in the human dynamic, and raring to go so early in the morning, then I would recommend it to you.

We are promised something ‘surreal, powerful and dark’ and it certainly delivers on all of those.

The Sister is about the changing relationships in families, sure, but it could easily have been simply about the relationship of husband and wife or the bully and the bullied alone. It certainly makes you think and realise that we all believe we stand on a platform in relation to others, but the platform can be one of shifting sands.

This room is well-suited to the play which jumps from the domestic situation of Bob and Leanne’s house (which they are apparently doing up) to the cruise ship where Terry takes Colleen on a ticket meant for his late wife.

Yes, this is a complicated tale, but one which is told with punchy, slick dialogue and very good acting. I really was involved (difficult not to be with all those forks flying around!) and found this play both mesmerising and memorable.

There are some holes in the story which you are left wondering about, and of course that means that the tale remains in your head long after you leave. You may relate to it, you may not, but that is not important. It just shows you that there are people living very different lives to your own.

Go and see it!

Dutch Kills Theatre present The Sister

Paradise at St Augustine’s, The Studio Venue 152

6-29 August 2016 at 10.10am. (1 hour 5 minutes)

Tickets here. 

While all the Festival and Fringe hubbub goes on outside it is still possible to escape it by retiring to the darkness of The Filmhouse where they are playing Sid and Nancy over the next three days.

Ticket details here. 

The 1986 film stars Gary Oldman in one of his most acclaimed roles as Sid Vicious of Sex Pistols fame. Chloe Webb as his girlfriend Nancy Spungen is outstanding so for a bit of ‘anything but the festival’ entertainment look no further.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZp3meyWVm0?feature=oembed&w=696&h=522]

Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon has said that a return to Easter Road for Celtic midfielder Liam Henderson was unlikely.

Lennon gave Henderson his first team debut with the hoops when he was Celtic boss and he confirmed that he has been trying to bring him back to Easter Road on loan.

Henderson is a favourite amongst the Hibs’ fans after his performances last season. He came on as a substitute at Hampden Park in the Scottish Cup final and his inch perfect corners led to Anthony Stokes’ equaliser and David Gray’s winner.

Speaking last night to BBC Scotland, Lennon responded to a question about the youngster.

He replied: “I would doubt that very much

“[Celtic manager] Brendan [Rodgers] has him in his squad. He’s obviously Celtic’s player. I think Brendan would like the opportunity to work with him.

“If Liam were to leave Celtic, I don’t think the kid wants to go out on loan any more. If he’s going to go, he’s going to go on a permanent [move] and I can understand that as well.

“We are probably not in a position to do that just at the minute.”

Lennon also confirmed that he expects Andrew Shinnie to join the club on loan later this week and he is hoping to add another two players to his squad.

A police investigation is underway after two women were exposed to in Livingston and Mid Calder and officers are trying to establish whether the crimes are linked.

Both victims were women in their 20s and detectives have appealed for any witnesses to come forward.

The first incident took place around 6.50am on Wednesday as a 28-year-old woman was walking her dog along the B8046 in Mid Calder. A man started talking to the woman and exposed himself to her before she left the area and reported the matter to the police.

The suspect is described as white and in his late 20 to early 30s, 6ft with short dark, hair and dark-rimmed glasses. He spoke with a foreign accent but had good English.

She saw a man emerge from woods nearby and walk closer to her car before exposing himself.

The suspect in that case is described as white, in his 20s to early 30s, 6ft with a slim build, a slim face and short light-coloured facial hair.

He was wearing a black beanie woollen hat a black jacket, grey baggy waterproof trousers and light grey mountaineering shoes with red laces.

Detective Constable Iain Duncan from Livingston CID said: “At this time we are investigating whether both of these crimes are linked and so anyone who can assist with our inquiries is asked to come forward.

“Neither victim was harmed or threatened during either incidents but we treat all crimes of indecency very seriously.

“Anyone who say anything suspicious on or around the B8046 on Wednesday morning, or on Murieston Road East on Sunday afternoon or may know who the suspects are should contact police immediately.”

Anyone with information can contact Police Scotland on 101 or alternatively, the charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Hosting your own coffee morning can be a piece of cake, at least according to best friends Ava, Annie and Elizabeth.

Ava Green, 4, Annie Soane, 3, and Elizabeth Sweetman, 5, from Edinburgh, made short work of a giant cupcake to promote Macmillan Cancer Support’s World’s Biggest Coffee Morning on September 30^th.

Last year the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning event celebrated its 25th anniversary and raised a record breaking £27.5 million. Macmillan is hoping this year’s event on September 30th will be the biggest ever.

For more information or to get your free Coffee Morning kit visit: coffee.macmillan.org.uk

A week, Harold Wilson once said, is a long time in politics.

For Matt Forde, the unexpected outcome of June’s Brexit vote meant a quick re-work of a show that is selling-out faster than some of the politicians he looks to bring to account throughout the show.

In his opening statement, Forde thanked the current political jungle for changing almost every day just to keep things interesting, and despite his clear ambition for an outcome favouring remain in the recent EU referendum, his rapier wit and intelligence shines through to give an equal kicking across the political spectrum of those in charge.

Forde’s impressions of a bumbling Boris Johnson and a strutting Gordon Brown of Referendum fame are remarkably uncanny. I wonder what Brown’s former Parliamentary buddy Alistair Darling (Baron Darling of Roulanish to you! Ed.) thought of the comedian’s depiction from the back of the Cabaret room…

The rather tedious campaigns used on both sides of the Brexit campaign were equally dissected by Forde before moving on to the fall out and what lies ahead.

Forde pulls no punches either when observing that every Government needs a strong opposition.  In Jeremy Corbyn, he notes, they have a man who can’t even think of six questions for the weekly charade that is PMQs and he has to crowdsource them instead!

The session of insightful entertainment for political geeks and those mildly interested in the subject matter alike comes to an end courtesy of Forde’s amusing closing statement, which he reads before departing like an outgoing politician through the black-out curtain at the back of the stage.

The show, at The Pleasance Cabaret, runs until August 28^th. Limited tickets are still available through the EdFringe website

Sarah Callaghan, in her Fringe show, 24, does a bit of self-examination, but not without a pun or two to make the journey palatable.

The South London twenty-something’s energy is certainly not lacking, using an upfront and straight-talking style to engage with the audience about some proactive changes she decides to make in her like after uncovering a Facebook link to ‘10 steps that WILL improve your life in 24 hours.’

Award-winning comedian, actor and writer Sarah Callaghan, is one of the youngest comics on the circuit, with her debut comedy performance in 2010. Her vibrant stage persona has quickly made its mark, leading her to become a Funny Woman finalist the following year.

However, for someone with that acclaim this show is somewhat weak, despite her confidence. In a room with an audience of around twenty people, she struggles to get anything near a cackle or a snort, as her they conservatively hold back on her puns, which were either too obvious or delivered too subtly.

The show itself begins with promise but soon loses our interest, as she delivers puns such as, “more inbred (bread) than a Pret a Manger” and “jumping over barriers like a s**t Mo Farah and I don’t even do drugs anymore”. Along with her prolonged references to London, Uber and the St Pancras pianos, instead of keeping these more universal, it is understandable that the crowd lose interest.

With her energy, confidence and drive, the potential is clearly there. However, she perhaps needs to work with her audience more, and lose some of these many London references.

Let’s see what she has to bring to the Fringe in 2017.

‘A tsunami is the result of an earthquake; Scotland’s earthquake was the independence referendum campaign’

According to chair Magnus Linklater, Iain Macwhirter is ‘one of the best informed people on Scottish politics that you’re likely to meet’.

He’s also, of course, The Herald’s political commentator and the author of Road to Referendum and Disunited Kingdom. Iain was at the 2016 Edinburgh International Book Festival to discuss Tsumani: Scotland’s Democratic Revolution, his book about the SNP’s resounding success in the 2015 General Election, in which ‘Scotland (was) swept by an unprecedented wave of yellow’.

Why, asks Magnus, did it happen? Were voters swayed by nationalism, or was something else behind this seismic shift – an average swing of 30% in almost every Scottish mainland constituency?

Margaret Thatcher, says Iain, had a lot to do with it. After several hundred years of relative acceptance of the Union, events in Westminster in the 1990s led Scotland to start to question its position – its moral commitment to this strange political marriage began to wane. Whilst many Scots favoured what Iain terms ‘existential nationalism’ – a romantic ideal – others simply felt that the UK no longer offered them what they wanted; it could no longer sustain their ambitions.

The collapse of Labour has in his view also fuelled the SNP’s spectacular rise (its membership has quadrupled since the 2014 Referendum). As Labour appeared to move steadily to the right, the SNP – then led by Alex Salmond – adopted the policies that Labour had abandoned. Scottish party leader Jim Murphy purported to support ‘devo max’, but Iain (and, it seems, most of Scotland) was unconvinced;

‘The image I have is of a female impersonator with all the right clothes but with stubble still on his chin’

Scottish Labour’s current leader, Kezia Dugdale, has so far been unable to resolve the question of the party’s identity north of the border, and its one remaining MP, Ian Murray, opposes the renewal of Trident, ‘he’s a special case’.

And of course, the SNP’s ace card has to be its leader, ‘an extraordinary phenomenon’ to whom the response on the streets is, says, Iain, ‘amazing… people fall in love with her’. Unlike her predecessor (and indeed many of her supporters) though, Nicola Sturgeon is no romantic.

Her nationalism is ‘utilitarian’, a means to an end, and that end is social justice. If she sees that this goal would be better achieved in another way, that is the option she will pursue; she has just announced a big push to close the educational attainment gap, a mammoth task by itself – and few would deny that much inequality stems from the divisive nature of the educational system.

Was Sturgeon, Magnus asks, caught out by Brexit as much as Boris Johnson was? Did she really anticipate a ‘material change of circumstances’ so soon? Possibly, says Iain, and she certainly won’t be rushed into a referendum unless she thinks the time has come when Scotland can exist independently.

Labour may be in a mess, but things are changing. In the most recent Scottish Parliamentary elections the SNP did not win an overall majority, and although the party still dominates Scottish politics, for the first time in living memory the Tories have become the official opposition in Holyrood. Their leader, Ruth Davidson, ran a very different campaign from the standard blue rinse and pearls brigade, her literature hardly mentioned the Conservative Party and her posters often weren’t even blue. Does she represent the possibility of a genuine Tory revival in Scotland? (‘NO’ stage whispers the man sitting next to me, and his opinion is echoed around the room.)

Meanwhile Jeremy Corbyn was elected Labour Party leader with one of the largest majorities ever, the party is starting to reappraise its old policies and, Iain suggests, as the Labour Party edges leftwards the SNP may be moving in the opposite direction. Sturgeon no longer plans to increase taxes on the rich (‘because then they’ll all leave the country’), Angus Robertson said only three days ago that a second independence referendum will be lost ‘if voters believe they will be poorer’ – whilst at the same time even Corbyn’s ‘moderate’ opponent Owen Smith says he favours increased public borrowing and higher taxes, policies that would have been anathema to Tony Blair. Everywhere the sands are shifting; many people voted SNP because they wanted a real social democracy – but who is the most socialist now?

As for the EU, Iain does not accept that an independent Scotland would find it hard to rejoin – but he does raise the interesting question of whether it should. ‘Many people regard the EU as a bankers’ union’. Norway – often cited as a social democracy that Scotland could copy – has never been in the EU. What’s more, Norway separated peacefully from Sweden in 1905, a process that Iain describes as ‘incremental independence’ – the country gaining more and more ‘functional’ independence before it held a referendum, with the result that 99% of the population voted in favour – they could already see that it worked. There’s little doubt that Brexit has given the independence movement an enormous boost – many voted no in 2014 simply because they didn’t want to give up EU membership, a membership that now appears to have been given up for them;

‘Scotland will be cut off in the most obvious and severe way by remaining part of the UK’.

Project Fear, an audience member points out, has already reared its head again, with the Royal Bank of Scotland apparently threatening to ‘leave Scotland’ if independence becomes a reality. 90% of the bank’s activities, Iain says, are already taking place in the City of London under the NatWest umbrella – indeed RBS has become so toxic a brand that no-one wants to use it. RBS also has a vast number of sub-prime lending claims to answer in the US. If the bank wants to ‘leave’ Scotland ‘many people would say “good riddance”‘.

We are, concludes Iain, living through huge social change;

‘The fact that the people of Scotland are not out on the streets fighting does not alter the fact that what we have is a revolution’.

What the outcome of that revolution will be has yet to be seen, but the excellence of Iain Macwhirter’s incisive commentary and analysis is unquestionable.

Tsunami: Scotland’s Democratic Revolution by Iain Macwhirter is published by Freight Books and costs £8.99.

Edinburgh Leisure is offering a FREE 7 day pass, allowing you to try out their gyms, swimming pools, fitness classes, saunas, steam rooms and their Turkish Baths for a full 7 days, for FREE.

Visit www.edinburghleisure.co.uk and complete your details, pop in to your preferred venue and pick up your card to get started.

The pass is a great way to try before you buy.

With 30 venues across the city including 15 gyms, 10 swimming pools and over 750 fitness classes a week, there’s something for everyone joining the biggest club in town.

• Corstorphine public toilet to be sold
• Today at Edinburgh International Book Festival
• Girl guiding Scotland pilot project
• Waverley Care and Pleasance 
• Community Garden Info Session

In an effort to ingather some capital and to save some £300,000 of outgoings, the council agreed to close and sell some of their public toilets across the city.

One of these at 199 St John’s Road is being sold for £40,000 to Lanark Road Properties who own the property next door. There are no conditions attached to the deal which is likely to be rubber-stamped tomorrow when the council’s Finance and Resources committee meets.

The council has made arrangements with nearby businesses to offer the toilets on their premises to the public.

At the same meeting the council will agree to write off around £660,000 of rent arrears involving 229 tenants with more than £1,000 of rent due. This follows the sum of £134,743 which was made up of 472 rent accounts with arrears of less than £1,000 which has already been written off in the last financial year.

The Book Festival is well underway now in Charlotte Square and beginning at 10am there is a Ten at Ten event when some Festival authors will begin the day by reading from their works.

After that the highlight of the day is probably Frederick Forsyth with Ian Rankin if you are of a certain age. The former RAF pilot and investigative journalist turned author has many tales to tell in his autobiography.

And then wonder of wonders, Edna O’Brien will be on at 13.30 talking about her latest book, The Little Red Chairs. The story follows the consequences of a fatal attraction.

Do remember that if you don’t have tickets there is a returns queue for every event. You may be lucky!

Gender equality campaigner Laura Bates, comedian Bridget Christie and Director of Equate Scotland Talat Yaqoob have shown their support for Girlguiding Scotland’s latest project to encourage girls and young women to take action on issues they care about.

The innovative project, called Action for Change, is being run in partnership with Girlguiding and Girlguiding Scotland, launches in Scotland before being rolled out the remainder of the UK where it will create the largest regional girl-led advocacy network in the UK, over the next three years.

Action for Change will give young members of Girlguiding Scotland the skills, confidence and ongoing support that they need to speak up about the issues that matter to them, build a fairer society and play their part in changing their communities for the better.

Laura Bates, founder of Everyday Sexism, said: “It’s so important that girls and young women are supported to speak out when they experience or witness inequality – because that’s how change happens.

“I think it’s great that Girlguiding is launching Action for Change, as this will give even more girls and young women the opportunity to create the change they want to see.”

Through Action for Change, Girlguiding Scotland members aged 13 to 18 will have the opportunity to attend an action-packed training and inspiration weekend in Edinburgh where they will learn key skills such as persuasive storytelling, digital communications, how to influence decision makers, and the role of the media in creating change. They will also hear from young campaigners about what inspired them to turn their ideas into action.

Read more here

Waverley Care is a charity aiming to make a positive difference for those with HIV and Hepatitis C. We spoke to the CEO of the charity, Grant Sugden, on top of Calton Hill yesterday morning about the beneficial partnership they have enjoyed for quarter of a century with Pleasance.

Lovely day to start with a photo call on top of Calton Hill! With @SusanCalman @ThePleasance @WaverleyCare pic.twitter.com/VrERfQeWo2

— Edinburgh Reporter (@EdinReporter) August 15, 2016

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On Saturday 20 August at Pingado Coffee Shop North Merchiston Club at 48 Watson Crescent EH11 1EP there will be an Open Info Session about the new community garden planned for Harrison Park. In September the Grove mobile community garden is moving to part of the car park at Harrison Park East and this will be open to all living in the local community.

Get along and find out how to become involved!

The @GroveEdinburgh#communitygarden is moving to #HarrisonPark. Come & find out more *Sat 20 Aug* @greenspacetrustpic.twitter.com/vXL28T5CjO

— The Grove (@GroveEdinburgh) August 15, 2016

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The latest project form Girlguiding Scotland aimed at encouraging girls and young women to take action on issues they care about has support from gender equality campaigner Laura Bates, comedian Bridget Christie and Director of Equate Scotland Talat Yaqoob.

The innovative project, called Action for Change, is being run in partnership by Girlguiding and Girlguiding Scotland, and it launches in Scotland before being rolled out the remainder of the UK where it will create the largest regional girl-led advocacy network in the UK, over the next three years.

Action for Change will give young members of Girlguiding Scotland the skills, confidence and ongoing support that they need to speak up about the issues that matter to them, build a fairer society and play their part in changing their communities for the better.

Laura Bates, founder of Everyday Sexism, said: “It’s so important that girls and young women are supported to speak out when they experience or witness inequality – because that’s how change happens.

“I think it’s great that Girlguiding is launching Action for Change, as this will give even more girls and young women the opportunity to create the change they want to see.”

Through Action for Change, Girlguiding Scotland members aged 13 to 18 will have the opportunity to attend an action-packed training and inspiration weekend in Edinburgh where they will learn key skills such as persuasive storytelling, digital communications, how to influence decision makers, and the role of the media in creating change. They will also hear from young campaigners about what inspired them to turn their ideas into action.

Girlguiding Scotland members will then be supported to take action in their own unique ways, whether it’s organising a community event, starting a petition, tackling bullying or discrimination they see, fundraising to make changes they care about – or something completely different within their local communities or beyond.

Sue Walker, Girlguiding Scotland’s Chief Commissioner, said: “Empowering girls and young women to use their voice and take social action is at the heart of Girlguiding Scotland’s values and programme.

“We want to support our young members to take social action to the next level by inspiring them to aim high, building their confidence to take action wherever their passion lies.

“I’ve seen the amazing difference our members make both in their own communities and beyond – from speaking out on issues such as mental health and body image to providing practical aid to refugees. I can’t wait to see what our girls will go onto achieve will the skills and confidence they develop through this exciting new project.”

Talat Yaqoob, Director of Equate Scotland, is among high-profile backers of the project. She said: “We may have a woman First Minister and Prime Minister, but look below the surface and there are layers of inequality young women face.

“We need young women to feel powerful and know that they can change society for the better. Girlguiding has led the charge in listening and responding to the concerns of young women in the modern world.

“I’m delighted to support this initiative and look forward to meeting amazing girls and young women from all over Scotland at the Inspiration Weekend.”

Katie Horsburgh, 16, a Girlguiding Scotland member from Edinburgh, said: “Girls are the key to changing their lives for the better. Through my role on Girlguiding’s Advocate panel, I’ve had some fantastic opportunities to speak out on issues that I care about.

“Now, by mobilising Girlguiding Scotland members from the Borders to the Highlands, we want to give even more girls the microphone – empowering them to share their stories and their experiences and to give their answers to some of the key, tough social issues girls and young women face today.”

A spokesperson for the Esmée Fairbairn Foundation added: “We are excited to support Girlguiding’s Action for Change project, which will empower hundreds of girls and young women to take action on the social issues that matter to them. It will ensure that young women’s voices are heard, and are able to contribute to a more just and inclusive society in the UK.”

Yeonmi Park, Fahma Mohamed and Chella Quint are among the high profile supporters who will be taking to social media over the next week, encouraging all girls and young women in the UK to start a conversation about issues they would like to see #ActionforChange on.

Get involved on Twitter and Instagram at @GirlguidingScot, using the hashtag #ActionforChange.

Recruitment to take part in Action for Change is now open to all Girlguiding Scotland members aged 13-18. Interested members can get in touch at www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk/action-for-change/

For more information about Girlguiding Scotland, the leading charity for girls and young women in Scotland, go to www.girlguidingscotland.org.uk

When the esteemed editor of this here website asked her hard-pressed writers which shows at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe they wanted to review, the first name I put my hand up for was Colin Cloud.

I’ve seen the ultimate forensic mind-reader a number of times now and he never fails to astound me. When I first saw him a couple of years ago I wrote on The Edinburgh Reporter website that his show was ‘mesmerising’. That explained my smug look when the brief video introduction to his show this year at the Underbelly Med Quad in Teviot Place highlighted several tributes on screen, including that of yours truly.

Colin Cloud isn’t just a mind-reader. He is a genius, fascinated by human behaviour and those who go to his near sell-out shows leave in total awe of the great man. How he manages to do what he does beggars belief.

His 2016 Fringe Show, Expose, is, in my humble opinion, his best yet. From the opening minutes through to the truly astonishing end, Cloud does what it says on the tin – he exposes the minds of his audience. They are willing participants and are asked to complete a small information card about themselves before they enter the theatre. But Cloud sees none of this information – the audience are asked to keep their cards until halfway during the show when they are then deposited in a receptacle Cloud doesn’t go near. Yet, he has an astonishing detailed knowledge of people’s dreams, a gift which makes him the master of wizardry.

In shows like these some people at the back of the theatre can feel left out. Not with Cloud, who involves anyone, front middle or back. Quick-witted and not without charm, Cloud has his audience spellbound from start to finish.

To tell you what happened in the show would be to spoil it for those who have still to see this astonishing performer. But, rest assured, what you will see will damn near take your breath away. Those who have seen Cloud on ITV’s This Morning may know what to expect but, what I will say, is that each and every one of the open-mouthed audience feels involved and with a feeling they have been part of something truly wondrous.

The climax is a dangerous game of hide-and-seek that leaves everyone shaking their head and asking in unison ‘how the hell did he do that?’

Colin Cloud is to mind-reading what Dynamo is to magic. But don’t just take my word for it. Get along to his show and see for yourself. You will witness one of the most astonishing shows of this or any other year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Tickets here

Edinburgh Reporter Review:  *****

Edinburgh Council Football Development team, supported by The Scottish Football Association and Hibernian Community Foundation is looking for 20 young people with a diagnosis of autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) to take part in a new player pathway programme that will start in September in Edinburgh.  This is a pilot programme.

This is an exciting new opportunity for young people with a diagnosis of autism aged between 11 and 16 years of age living in Edinburgh and the Lothians

The criteria for this pilot programme is :

-Young people must have a diagnosis of Autistic spectrum disorder

-Players must be in the age bracket of 11 to 16 years of age at the start of the programme

-Players must have a genuine interest in football

-Players must be committed to all aspects of the programme including taking part in an awards scheme and attending training sessions

-Players must be available for the full 15 sessions of the programme

The programme will include a new sports award scheme, operated by Team United who will also work with partners Hibernian FC through their Community Foundation plus some local clubs. The sessions will run from a central location, likely to be at Forrester High School in Corstorphine, mid-week from 5-6pm. Initial introductory meetings will be held at Easter Road where parents will be introduced to the programme in more detail.

The new exciting programme will run for 15 sessions with weekly SFA coaching sessions. Additional to the programme will be a monthly social club, awards scheme and opportunities for a transitions pathway to local community clubs plus other opportunities.  Further details of this will follow if the player is accepted to the programme. A fee is applicable for this programme and payable in full at the start of the programme.

Notes of interest are currently being taken, with places being awarded on a first come, first served basis.  This is a pilot programme and places are limited to 20.

Interested parties should email notes of interest to team.united@btinternet.com and include the following information :- prospective player’s full name, address, age and date of birth, parent/carer contact details (phone, email and name if different from player), diagnosis.

Parents/carers are expected to be in attendance at all of the sessions.  Sessions will last approximately one hour on a weekly basis.

Charlotte Josephine has received a Stage Edinburgh Award for her performance in BLUSH.

BLUSH is also written by Charlotte and is presented by Snuff Box Theatre.  This fast-paced two-handed tells five candid stories about revenge porn and all its many victims.  This angry, honest and heartfelt piece seeks to encourage and broaden examination of how the scarcity culture in modern society is fuelling our shame, encouraging the destructive belief systems that we are not enough.

BLUSH is on until 28^th August (not 16^th) at Underbelly Cowgate at 6pm.

Charlotte said:  “Thank you very much for the Stage Edinburgh Award.  It’s hugely flattering and really is testimony to the brilliant creative team who made BLUSH with me.

“There’s a lot of unsung heroes busting a gut behind the scenes.  Huge thanks to everyone involved for their blood, sweat and tears and thanks to all the lovely audiences for all the support.”

This news follows Charlotte winning the inaugural ‘BBC Screenplay First Award’ in June, an award which was launched last year in line with BBC Films’ 25^th Anniversary celebrations and is bestowed by BBC Films and BBC Writersroom.

Now in their 21^st year, the awards have developed a reputation for spotting acting excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and for being the bellwether for the year’s hottest shows.

Founded in 1995 by The Stage to celebrate the best performances each year at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – and formerly known as The Stage Awards for Acting Excellence at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe – the awards celebrate the richness and diversity of acting on the fringe, from solo shows to ensemble pieces.

Our 4 star review of the show is here and our earlier article with five questions for Charlotte Josephine is here.

Police are appealing for information to help trace a missing man from the Morningside area.

Mark Calvert-Elliott, 50, was last seen on Morningside Road around 1pm this afternoon.

Mark is described as around 5ft 11in tall, medium build with salt and pepper shaved receding hair.

He was last seen wearing a black/grey t-shirt, washed out jeans and casual trainers.

Sergeant Justin Peters, from Howdenhall Police Station, said: “We are concerned for Mark’s wellbeing and would ask that anyone who has any information that would assist us in tracing him, contact the police on 101, quoting incident 2134 of 15/08/2016.”

The music maverick and radical ultra-folk icon Roy Harper has announced four  live dates in the UK to celebrate his 75th this September.  The tour takes in Birmingham, Manchester, Edinburgh and London and will feature string and brass ensemble arranged by Fiona Brice.

Now a recording artist for over 50 years, Roy has seen many shifts in the modus, style and politics of society, things he has always drawn from in his songwriting.His first steel string guitar is also fifty years old this year.

To tie in with these significant anniversaries he will begin reissuing much of his catalogue on vinyl from September 2nd. The first three titles to be released are ‘Flat Baroque and Berserk‘, ‘Stormcock‘, and ‘Lifemask’. These will be released in quality gatefold covers on 180g vinyl. They will be put out via his ownlabel Science Friction and distributed by PIAS. 

Roy Harper is one of the few surviving singer-songwriters from the counterculture of the 60’s who is still creatively engaged in new composition and in progressing a body of work that has come to stand for a particularly single minded form of integrity. 

Now officially ‘retired’, and living in a secluded corner of Ireland, Harper has recently been hailed as a key influence by a much younger generation of devoted starsailors who instinctively recognise his innovations, his refusal to compromise and his visionary world view. The likes of Fleet Foxes, Joanna Newsom and Jim O’Rourke are avowed fans; and in previous decades he has enjoyed public endorsements from the likes of Led Zeppelin, Kate Bush, Pink Floyd’s Dave Gilmour and many more.  

His awards have included the BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards Lifetime Achievement Award in 2013 and theMojo Magazines Hero Award in 2005 presented to himby long time collaborator and friend, Jimmy Page. In September 2013 Roy Harper: Man & Myth – The Documentary, directed by George Scott, was broadcast on Sky Arts and his first album in thirteen years, ‘Man & Myth’, was released to rave reviews on Bella Union followed by three special concerts. 

Roy said: “This year, I celebrate my 75th birthday. In my 30’s, my lifestyle was such that I could never have imagined that I’d live as long as this, but here I am. Perhaps because I thought that my life might be shorter than this, I’ve tended latterly to want to celebrate significant milestones, so here we are…  I’m really looking forward to being out there again. It’ll be really great to see old friends and new, and be in that heady mix of the song and the moment on a stage again”  

The dates are as follows:

SEPTEMBER

WED 7th BIRMINGHAM – Symphony Hall

FRI 9th MANCHESTER – Bridgewater Hall

MON12th LONDON – Royal Festival Hall

SAT 17th EDINBURGH – Usher Hall

Birmingham City manager Gary Rowett has confirmed that Hibs’ hopes of taking  former Inverness Caledonian Thistle midfielder Andrew Shinnie on a year long loan deal is “virtually agreed”.

Hibs’ Head Coach Neil Lennon admitted that Shinnie was on his radar following Hibs 2-1 win over Dunfermline on Saturday.

Shinnie came on as a substitute in the recent friendly between the clubs at Easter Road and he is currently considering the offer to return to Scotland to resurrect his career.

The Scotland international joined the Blues from ICT three years ago after a successful spell in the Highlands where he scored 19 league goals in 57 appearances and was named in the PFA SPL Team of the Year as well as being short listed for a Players Player of the Year award.

He made his full international debut in November 2012 in a 2-1 win over Luxembourg.

Rowett said: “There has been contact between the clubs. Shinns has been a great lad for me, he’s a really, really good player, particularly when we first came in he was a really integral part of that.

“The likes  Diego (Fabbrini) has  moved that No. 10 position on a notch in some ways and it’s made it difficult for him to get game time.

“Anyone’s like that when it’s a season of no game time really, you start getting into the next season and if you feel as though he is still going to be limited I will never try and stand in anyone’s way.

“I would want to play football if I was a player.

“They have made an enquiry, we have virtually agreed and now it’s down to one or two things that Shinns has to decide.

“Whether he wants to go back to Scotland and various other things.

“In principle it’s something both clubs think it’s probably a good move for him although until it’s done it’s not done.”

Police have released new images of missing man Graham O’Malley as they issue a fresh appeal for information as to his whereabouts.

The 29-year-old was last seen leaving a relative’s home in Wolseley Terrace at around 11.20 a.m. on Saturday 6th August but has not made contact with anyone since this time.

Officers have been conducting inquiries throughout the city to trace Graham but have so far been unable to locate him.

Anyone with information that they believe can assist officers with this investigation is asked to come forward.

Graham is described as white, 5ft 10ins tall with a shaved head a fair skin that was slightly tanned.

He was last seen wearing a black leather bomber jacket, jeans, brown high top trainers and a grey woollen hat.

Graham also has a celtic band tattoo on one of his upper arms and is known to wear glasses and contact lenses.

Inspector Scott Casey from Craigmillar Police Station said: “It’s now been over a week since Graham was last seen or heard from and this obviously raises our level of concern for his wellbeing.

“Graham is known to travel and we’ve been carrying out inquiries to establish if he may have ventured outside the city, but at this moment in time there is no information as to where he may be.

“We have now issued new images of Graham and would ask the public to contact us immediately if they recognise him, or believe they may have seen him since Saturday 6th August.

“I would also once again ask Graham to come forward if he sees this appeal and let us know that he is safe.”

Those with information can contact Police Scotland on 101

The former Royal High School has lain empty for decades, and now there are two planning applications lodged in respect of the same building.

The first is from the consortium of Duddingston House Properties and the Urbanist Group (with a promise from Rosewood Hotels that they will use the building as a luxury offering in their portfolio). That was rejected by the council last December and has since gone to appeal. This is the group which has a lease arrangement with the council who own the building all subject to planning permission being obtained. The plans showed a six storey hotel around the existing building with parts to each side being demolished.

The second application is being lodged by St Mary’s Music School who wish to create a new home for their pupils, promising to throw open the doors for concerts and public events. Their application is financially backed by the Dunard Fund and proposes a 300 seat concert hall in the debating chamber, a new entrance on Regent Road and a publicly accessible garden on the west and north. New modern school buildings on the east and north would provide classrooms and accommodation for pupils.

The school says that this would provide the answer to a call for concert venues in the capital especially during the summer, and would allow the school to expand its community outreach programme to just under 2,000 local participants.

The school has 83 pupils at present and seeks to expand their roll to 120. The plans are recommended for approval by the planning officials when they come before the committee this week.

The planners say that the proposals to create and improved school campus support the principles of Scottish Planning Policy for sustainable development in terms of its contribution towards educational infrastructure. The school would have to enter into a S 75 agreement with the council to provide footpath improvements alongside the planning proposal.

William Gray Muir, the Chair of the Royal High School Preservation Trust, said: “The former Royal High School is pivotal to Edinburgh’s World Heritage Status and our plans are designed to celebrate, conserve and enhance the site for the people of Edinburgh. By making it home to St Mary’s Music School we also hope to reinforce musical education at the heart of the city’s cultural heritage.

“This is a wonderful opportunity to transform a building at risk into a dynamic asset for students, residents, visitors to the city, educational and cultural organisations and the creative sector as a whole.

“Our plans are fully funded, they bring together world-class culture and heritage in a highly visible and meaningful way and have overwhelming support from local residents and heritage organisations concerned about preserving our UNESCO World Heritage Status. All of this can be achieved without any adverse change to the setting of the historic site.”

Dr Kenneth Taylor, Headteacher at St Mary’s Music School, added: “A move to the Royal High School under the Trust’s plans would enable St Mary’s Music School to have the performance space we have always aspired to. It will enable us to bring music lovers into the school and greatly expand our outreach activities.

“Everyone associated with the school and our supporters within the wider musical and cultural community are hugely excited that this move provides a wonderful and unique opportunity to raise our profile on the international stage, drawing attention to the world class standard of education at St Mary’s Music School, with music at the heart of everything we do.”

The architects involved in the project are Richard Murphy Architects and conservation architects Simpson & Brown.

With 553 comments on this application this planning matter which has attracted some controversy in respect of both proposals.

Since the first application is out to appeal it will be an interesting day on Wednesday to see what is possible and what the planners do.