"Portobello Beach" sign.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 19 Apr 2010, 21:39

Can anyone tell me whether there are any signs in the City Centre that point the way to the beach? I don't think there are but I may be wrong. It seems like a bit of an omission on the part of the council.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 19 Apr 2010, 23:23

I don't think I've ever seen any signs in the City Centre specifically saying "Portobello beach". I can't recall seeing any signs for "Cramond beach" either.
Maybe a missed marketing opportunity? How about advertising on the LRT 26 bus route? Which also goes down to sunny Musselburgh by the sea, with the added attraction of a harbour and both Di Rollo's AND Luca's ice cream shops...

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 20 Apr 2010, 19:12

I agree, especially about the bus. We've got a "Zoom to the Zoo" and we could have a "Bus to the Beach". This was discussed at a Big Things On The Beach public meeting. I think it's an excellent marketing opportunity.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 20 Apr 2010, 21:55

"Bus to the Beach" is excellent!

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 21 Apr 2010, 06:34

Maureen Child is raising these ideas with the council and LRT.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 06 May 2010, 11:01

Apparently this has been raised in the past and met resistance. Can anyone shed any light on why Edinburgh Council wouldn't want signs pointing to the beach?

Post by **wangi** » 06 May 2010, 11:43

Presumably because road signs are intended as directional aids, rather than advertising.

So for the city centre it's reasonable to have signs for "Portobello" and the assumption that people can put two and two together and work out to follow those to get to "Portobello Beach". Once in / near Portobello then signs to the "beach" make sense.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 May 2010, 11:56

I've been asked on two occasions, by tourists (English ones) in the city centre if Edinburgh has a beach. One family asked me as I was getting ready to leave the car park , so I just told them to follow me 'home'. Their kids were delighted to see the beach and the prom.

I'm not sure how much is made of the fact that Portobello has a beach in tourist literature. Was there not some Council literature produced recently, showing North Berwick beach on the back page?

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 06 May 2010, 12:18

That's what the 'brown' places of interest signs are appropriate for... no reason why places like beaches couldn't go on one of those.

seashell · Post by **seashell** » 07 May 2010, 09:43

Puerto bella wrote:That's what the 'brown' places of interest signs are appropriate for... no reason why places like beaches couldn't go on one of those.

And just down the road from Portobello you will find those very "brown" signs highlighting the "East Lothian Coastal trail", which just happens to include some beaches.
Funny that Edinburgh Council will highlight a place of interest like the Zoo (which you have to pay to get into) but not a free, natural resource like the beach

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 08 May 2010, 17:54

wangi wrote:Presumably because road signs are intended as directional aids, rather than advertising.

So for the city centre it's reasonable to have signs for "Portobello" and the assumption that people can put two and two together and work out to follow those to get to "Portobello Beach". Once in / near Portobello then signs to the "beach" make sense.

This assumes that people know there's a beach to visit.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 May 2010, 18:07

I think it would be good to have a leaflet promoting Portobello generally as a tourist destination, available in tourist information centres. 'Portobello - Edinburgh's seaside village' sort of thing. We have plenty of attractions - the beach, the prom, attractive parks, bars, cafés, restaurants, elegant Georgian architecture, a proper high street with quality shops and affordable accommodation on a frequent bus route to the city centre. I'm sure that the vast majority of the millions of visitors to Edinburgh have no idea that Portobello exists.

I'm sure that if the Council were to give this the go-ahead, there would be plenty of people willing to assist with providing content - Portobello Amenity Society, Portobello Community Council, the traders etc.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 08 May 2010, 18:08

As long as we don't end up with signs like this

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 May 2010, 18:13

Nah, not Portobello. That would be Longniddry Bents car park no. 2. Apparently.

SoupDragon · Post by **SoupDragon** » 08 May 2010, 21:21

Thats so true, Bob. Seems everybody knows that.

Apart from Mr Soupy who thought it would be a nice dark place to go with binoculars slung round his neck- for stargazing.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 24 May 2010, 08:29

Thought it was the Gore Glen car park, Bob?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 24 May 2010, 16:58

That would be the Midlothian pack. They should really put some signs up to avoid confusion.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 12 Jun 2010, 09:03

Maureen forwarded this to me.

Letter from Marshal Poulton head of Transport Edinburgh Council to Portobello Councillor Maureen Child.

I regret to advise you that tourist site signs are not generally provided unless the area has received accreditation from Visit Scotland. It should also be noted that once accreditation is received that the area is only signed from the nearest main traffic route which in this case is Portobello High Street.

There is a signing policy in place which aims to reduce the number of signs erected in order to limit the overall roadside clutter and ensure pedestrians and motorists are only presented with necessary, pertinent information. Please also note that another difficulty in providing signage for Portobello from the City Centre area is that it is a World Heritage Site and within this area it is pertinent that we reduce the visual intrusion that excessive or inappropriate signing can cause.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 12 Jun 2010, 09:13

Here's a link to VisitScotland's signposting regs.

http://www.visitscotland.org/business_s ... tions.aspx

I think Portobello qualifies.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 Jul 2010, 19:08

Look out for an article on this topic in tomorrow's EN.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 02 Jul 2010, 21:15

VisitScotland are supportive. We need to fill in this form:

Accreditation

And we need support from Tom Mochan in the Roads Department and the Economic Development Unit.

On a broader scale, we need to speak to Sinead Feltoe, the Regional Director for Edinburgh at VisitScotland, to ensure that Portobello is promoted as a tourist destination. Expect Maureen Child to take the lead on this.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 03 Jul 2010, 10:37

Hi bob,

Does the form need to be submitted by the PCC or can an individual do it?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Jul 2010, 11:29

I don't think it has to be submitted by the CC, though they would be the obvious body to do so through their signs and plaques sub-committee. But I think we could probably sort the whole thing out ourselves and perhaps we should. It's easy to criticise other people from the sidelines. Maybe we should form a talkporty action group and achieve a few things ourselves?

OK, so nobody elected us but then nobody elected the CC, or PAS for that matter. We have 684 members, almost all local people, and we have a ready-made means of communication.

Talkporty Action Group - more talk, more action!

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 03 Jul 2010, 11:42

Had a look at the form Bob and qu.10 asks about funding for the sign(s). Are the CoEC happy to fund this?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Jul 2010, 11:50

That's one of the questions we need an answer to before we bother filling in the form.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 03 Jul 2010, 12:40

And how much do signs cost?

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Jul 2010, 12:46

Dunno, but not very much in the grand scheme of things. I would be very surprised if the Council didn't foot the bill. It's the very least they can do after failing to promote Portobello for so long.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 03 Jul 2010, 13:27

Bob Jefferson wrote:Look out for an article on this topic in tomorrow's EN.

Or Monday's perhaps? Saturday isn't a good day for news coverage anyway.

rmolehusband · Post by **rmolehusband** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:22

elkanary wrote:and we could have a "Bus to the Beach". This was discussed at a Big Things On The Beach public meeting. I think it's an excellent marketing opportunity.

Looks like they've taken your idea on board, nice one.

http://edinburghnews.scotsman.com/news/ ... 6400162.jp

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:27

Bravo!! Well done Talk Porty and the folk (s) that came up with the idea.

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:33

This is EXCELLENT! We kicked ass.

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:37

Great result

Lambie · Post by **Lambie** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:38

Actually, "kicked ass" is a little strong isn't it. "Asked politely"?

Porty · Post by **Porty** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:42

Local resident and regular contributor on Talk Porty Bob Jefferson wrote:
"Everyone who lives in Portobello feels that Edinburgh is the capital of Scotland.
.

And some of us actually know that it is!!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 05 Jul 2010, 11:47

Blame Gemma, I'm sure that's not what I said.

Talk Porty ~ Portobello

"Portobello Beach" sign.

"Portobello Beach" sign.

Beach sign and "Bus to the Beach"

Resistance

Beach sign response from EDC

Re: Beach sign and "Bus to the Beach"

Bus to the Beach!