Edinburgh Weekly Blog Round-up: Leith Biomass reaction and the cycle path improvements map

By Rebecca Gordon
No Leith Biomass campaigners have been congratulated after the power plant plans were withdrawnSTV

One story that has generated a large amount of comment this week has been the news that Forth Energy have withdrawn their plans to build a power plant on Leith Docks.

The No Leith Biomass campaign blog carries both the original press statement by the firm, plus a statement from local MP Sheila Gilmore congratulating the campaign group.

On the Greener Leith blog there is an in depth round-up of local reactions from Twitter and the press.

Local academic, Dr Peter Mathews, says he isn’t surprised by the decision as the proposal faced so much opposition from local residents.

Other politicians to make comment on the biomass announcement include local councillor Rob Munn, and Alison Johnstone MSP.

Last week, new planning regulations came into force throughout Scotland. The Broughton Spurtle has details of what this might mean for the neighbourhood, and a letter outlining the concerns of the Leith Central Community Council.

The Marchmont and Sciennes Community Council blog reminds everyone that although new signs have started going up in the neighbourhood now, new 20mph speed limits will not apply until March 23rd.

Councillor Cameron Rose flags up a discount gym membership deal for the, yet to open, Commonwealth Pool. He also notes that the handful of Occupy Edinburgh protesters have left the Meadows.

Although there is no permanent Occupy Edinburgh camp in the city now they insist that they will continue their campaign in other ways. Local blogger, Tychy brands Occupy Edinburgh a failure and explains why in this post.

Meanwhile, Labour Leader Andrew Burns has announced that his party have published a revised manifesto for the next local elections.

Local musician, Smoothiesforme is hotly tipped by the Edinburgh Spotlight who have posted a review of her latest free to download EP.

Fay Young muses on the merits of RBS sponsorship after tickets for the next RBS Museum Lates event went on sale.

And lastly, Edinburgh cyclists on the Edinburgh City Cycling Forum have dusted off a Google Map that has been used to crowd source proposals for cycle infrastructure improvements, following a council decision to boost cycle spending to 5% of the transport budget this week.