Talk of the Town: Cardownie makes 'green' policy plane

IN these times of concern about climate change, every organisation wants to show that it is trying to make a difference. But it seems deputy city leader Steve Cardownie is taking things to extremes.

During a meeting of the policy and strategy committee, Audit Scotland presented a report on environmental policy using the council's screens. As discussions moved on, Cllr Cardownie asked for the screens to be turned off to save energy.

Later in the meeting, Cllr Cardownie voted to send his SNP colleague Tom Buchanan to a conference in Zaragoza by plane instead of using rail for the whole journey. Councillors accused him of double standards on the environment, with Labour councillor Paul Godzik adding: "Maybe we should just buy him a Tommobile for all his trips."

Taxi drivers hail Emin's power to draw the crowds

TRACEY Emin divides the art world into those who think her a genius and others an untalented charlatan.

But she remains a favourite amongst city taxi drivers, who believe her retrospective show at the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in 2008 was one of the biggest boons to the cab business in recent years. One driver believed he picked up several of the 5300 people who visited in the first two weeks after opening.

He said: "Tracey Emin was the best attraction I can remember when she had her show during the festival."

Trams not a trick question

IT'S the question everyone wants answered: when will Edinburgh's tram project finally be finished?

Drawing a blank from all official channels, Talk of the Town decided text service Ask 63336 was worth a punt. Any organisation that brags about its ability to answer conundrums about the meaning of life or the apparent absence of baby pigeons was definitely worth a shot.

Its response? The tram system is "expected" to be complete in 2014, but that may or may not happen. Oh, and it's going to cost an "incredible" 600 million. You heard it here first.

Nestbuilders fly the coop

EDINBURGH parents have 537 more every month to spend on themselves once their children leave home to become students, a new study has shown.

The research also says parents increase their circle of friends by an average of four people as they have, on average, the time to socialise an extra two times a week. The survey by student accommodation provider Unite coined a phrase to describe the parents enjoying a new lease of life when their offspring leave - Empty Nest Opportunist, or ENOs.