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Another hostel for the Grassmarket, a village to be 'cut off' by pothole repairs and paying tribute to city's homeless

A controversial hostel has been given the go-ahead, leaving campaigners in the Grassmarket furious.

Buying property in the Grassmarket where there have always been hostels and drunkenness then trying to change the area? What stag and hen party wants it outwith the city.

john3

It's a hopeless cause trying to fight for a more peaceful Grassmarket. It's always been a rackety place. Get some earplugs.

blackley

By many people's logic nobody has any rights to a full night's sleep, vomit and urine-free doorstep or safe and vandalism-free place to live. We should all just give up trying to have a nice place to live and be trampled all over. Many people in the area have lived there for 20+ years. Many other people are in sheltered housing or have little choice over where they live. Just because it's popular with drinkers doesn't mean we should just fling open the doors and let stag dos trash the whole area.

Fed up with stinky streets

I doubt its existence or lack of will make much of a change to the area.

Koffindodger

Well done Charles Dundas; yet another victory for councillors who'll trade quality of life and common sense in the face of a ridiculous drink culture for minimal, short-term financial gain for the city. The council won't be happy until they turn the entire city centre into a no-go area for locals.

JFW

Residents in Kirkliston are also unhappy, fearing they will be left stranded by repairs to the B800 road.

When driving down this road you have to swerve all over the place to avoid the craters. To blame the potholes on the recent cold spell is wrong. The road was knackered before that!

TankEngine

This road has been a disgrace for years. It's been patched, botched and repaired badly so many times that I for one will accept the inconvenience of closure provided it is resurfaced properly.

JulesF

I have never come across the shambolic state of Edinburgh's roads in any other capital I've visited - and that includes the 'third world'.

Mallory

If they are not happy, leave the potholes where they are.

me150

Why can't the council guys do the work at night? It's not as if the road is surrounded by houses.

Boris the spider

Finally, a host of websites have been dedicated to the city's homeless 'celebrities'.

These cyber groupies are missing the point; these guys are not making a lifestyle choice, they are well known to homeless services and are living on the streets because they have significant problems. Perhaps the focus should be campaigning to get better services for these sorry individuals.

uncle josef

In reality there is off-street accommodation available for every rough sleeper in Edinburgh, but many choose not to use it. There are drop-in centres but many choose not to go to them. There are a huge range of council support services but many choose not to take advantage of them.

Duncan in Edinburgh

I joined the 'I honestly love the rasta tramp' Facebook page. Every person on it has genuine affection for 'Arthur'. What harm was being done?

Bellaswan