Yellow Flag status for Porty Beach

[Maria]

Perhaps you would like to answer that one Rapunzell?


The rest of the paragraph continues

Paths and ramps should be provided where possible to allow wheelchair and pushchair access. The gradient of fixed ramps should be no more than 1 in 12. If the length exceeds two metres a handrail on each side and a landing area is recommended. Ramps for wheelchairs should have a minimum clear width of a metre. In many circumstances the installation of permanent wheelchair access ramps may be impossible. When this is the case it is recommended that removable portable wheelchair ramps are bought for at least one beach within a local authority area.

[wangi]

What's the council's excuse this time? Perhaps they couldn't afford a map that included all of Edinburgh.

On the twitter:

@east_team East Team
@talkporty Haven't seen this before but we'd be keen to apply next time. Some work needed to meet all criteria but achieveable.

I'm not sure it would have passed the criteria even if it had been entered.

Doesn't seem too much of an issue for all the beaches which did get it... and you'll never get anything if you don't try.

It is beyond frustrating that the council know fine well of this scheme (see page one of this thread from back in 2004!) and it is actively pursued and coveted by other local authorities. How can the Edinburgh East NP know nothing of it - where is the continuity; why are things not championed... Do they print-shred-burn-bury prior correspondence to ensure progress is never made?

Why is it local residents continually highlight these issues, try to improve our lot and just face barriers and then quiet forgetfulness as issues are left to die?

L/

[Maria]

Why is it local residents continually highlight these issues, try to improve our lot and just face barriers and then quiet forgetfulness as issues are left to die?

L/

Maybe they just think we're a bunch of moaners?

I'm not sure. Perhaps it's a combination of factors such as a lack of money and staff, who are moved between departments, so personal contacts and knowledge disappears, leaving the process to start all over again?

I do think we need to convince our fellow Edinburgh residents that Portobello is actually a nice place to live and visit. I was looking at Trip Advisor the other day to see where we now rank in the list of Edinburgh's attractions and was dismayed to read this recent comment (in reference to a trip to Porty) from a visitor to the city:

" I was warned by Edinburgh residents not to visit and I'm so pleased I ignored them."

[wangi]

I do think we need to convince our fellow Edinburgh residents that Portobello is actually a nice place to live and visit. I was looking at Trip Advisor the other day to see where we now rank in the list of Edinburgh's attractions and was dismayed to read this recent comment (in reference to a trip to Porty) from a visitor to the city:

" I was warned by Edinburgh residents not to visit and I'm so pleased I ignored them."

Aye, indeed. And the lack of an award, when beaches neighbouring council areas have them, only serves to reinforce those views.

No award == jobbies lying on the beach... Which is far from the truth, but if the beach isn't actively promoted and picking up awards to reassure people its clean, safe and a fun day out then it's hardly a surprise no award can be interpreted as failing an award, rather than no interest!

[Puerto bella]

I never cease to be amazed at the complete and utter lack of co-ordination, care and passion for the whole of this beautiful city by CEC. So sad that it is that way.

[Lambie]

I was at bellhaven a couple of weeks ago and over heard a BBQing family say "beautiful isn't it? If you had this in Edinburgh it'd all be shopping trolleys and dog shit". We do and it's not.

[Mark Cameron]

I contact Maureen Child who has agreed to raise this "as a Motion to one of the Council's Committees".

I'll post what I hear back.

[wangi]

http://twitter.com/#!/talkporty/status/ ... 8079246336

@talkporty
Edinburgh has a beach - Portobello Beach. It is clean, safe and lots of fun #positiveporty http://fb.me/zJ61hec2

[Makaveli]

How quick the tide can turn......

http://news.scotsman.com/edinburgh/Tide ... 6774461.jp

[wangi]

The Marine Conservation Society "Good Beach Guide" results for 2011:

• Portobello: Not tested
  Portobello - Central (James Street): MCS Recommended
  Portobello - West (Kings Road): Basic pass

[wangi]

So, finally good news on an award for Portobello Beach! We now have a Seaside Award from Keep Scotland Beautiful.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-18256023
http://coastal.keepscotlandbeautiful.or ... p?beach=76



(and I think this was the thread I first used positive porty )

[Mark Cameron]

This is fantastic and thoroughly deserved.

Thanks to all who've been involved in making this happen.

[wangi]

And a video via David Calder and the Cally Merc

http://caledonianmercury.com/2012/05/30 ... ag/0033901

[Grunk]

Now if only we could convince the council to let us have more bars and restaurants, then we could have a proper resort town.

[Bob Jefferson]

And a video via David Calder and the Cally Merc

http://caledonianmercury.com/2012/05/30 ... ag/0033901

If you watch this video, the Chief Exec for Keep Scotland Beautiful seems to be under the mistaken belief that we have been awarded a Blue Flag, which is not the case, and this error is taken as being true by Caledonian Mercury.

[regent]

Read an article last week indicating that portobello beach water quality is 20th worst in Scotland. According to some upcoming announcement. All seems to depend on who is measuring!

[portygeoff]

Just to add that as an early morning runner I often see people out walking/toileting their dogs on the beach. In winter it is often too dark for the owners to actually see what their dog is doing. Loads of so could responsible owners actually have only a limited knowledge of what their animal has been up to. And I have yet to see a dog owner clean up the urine from the beach. From another site:

Dog urine, like all animal urine, is usually sterile when it first leaves the body. That means it contains no pathogens that can cause infections in people--no bacteria, no viruses, and no fungi. However, the urine stream can pick up bacteria from the surrounding skin, and urine that is allowed to sit for any length of time becomes a breeding ground for bacteria (many of these are probably harmless, but it's inevitable that some harmful bacteria grow as well).

Whats wrong with a small patch of beach that is free from being a dog toilet.

[regent]

Thanks for the detail re urine! I don't think i'm going to sleep tonight!
When I had a dog I knew her "habits" and if I lost one in the dark would pick one up in lieu! Yes it's true! It was always a bit gut wrenching when you got your hand, in bag on a cold one!
A well trained dog is reasonably predictable. Said dog never went on anything other than sand or grass, and was generally a creature of habit.
I agree that it should be possible to implement a dog free area on beach and know that responsible dog owners would support this. That just leaves the ignorant ones that cause the problem at present. I think it is bait of a paradox.

[Epykat]

Clean up urine? Get real.

I've yet to see a dog produce as much poo as a horse - as was the case at King's Road yesterday. It was everywhere, all over the promenade and the sand.

[Pal of Porty]

Iv'e yet to see a horse poo as much an elephant!

[Epykat]

Iv'e yet to see a horse poo as much an elephant!

I've yet to see an elephant on the beach.

Maybe we could have a square foot of beach just for walking elephants and extra large poo bins.

[Pal of Porty]

I see loads of elephants on the beach when I am turfed out the Espy at closing time after an all day session!

[Puerto bella]

must have been an elephant that sat on my railing

[Epykat]

must have been an elephant that sat on my railing

Probably on it's way up from the beach having peed on the sterile sand. Elephants get tired running from Joppa to King's Road, chasing horses and biting joggers. I imagine it was just resting it's weary legs as it passed by your door on the way to the High Street to catch the 26 back to Corstorphine. The problem in the winter is that you can't always see them.

[Puerto bella]

I like elephants but not on my railing.

[Porty]

Neither Elephants or Dogs swim in Porty Baths. I. bet hardly a day goes by without the need to remove poos from the water. All part of being a community.

[storky]

[quote="portygeoff"]Just to add that as an early morning runner I often see people out walking/toileting their dogs on the beach. In winter it is often too dark for the owners to actually see what their dog is doing. Loads of so could responsible owners actually have only a limited knowledge of what their animal has been up to. And I have yet to see a dog owner clean up the urine from the beach.

I quite agree. I use the prom for my commute to work and I regularly see dog owners 'oblivious' to what their dogs are up to.

If Porty wants to have a high standard beach surely it makes sense to ban dogs from the beach area?

[seanie]

A dog free area isn't straightforward. Because of the 'Right to Roam' legislation there's a presumption in favour of access. It's possible to restrict that, but there's a process and I think you need permission from ministers. Some places have introduced dog free areas without that process so it's no more than a suggestion and isn't enforceable, and in reality there isn't the manpower to enforce it anyway.

[Pal of Porty]

I would rather the dogs were on the beach than on the Prom attached to one of those 20 foot invisible leads.

[Epykat]

I reckon the joggers should be confined to one part of the beach and they could run backwards and forwards between two groynes. They irritate my dog by constantly running and don't seem to have the sense to stop when a dog runs in front of them, instead shouting obscenities at the animal who thinks they're playing

[regent]

Yeah but only if they agree to pick up globs of sweat !

[Epykat]

Yeah but only if they agree to pick up globs of sweat !

Agree! Not to mention just gobs of, em...gobbings. I've seen them do that a lot.

[regent]

Then there is the problem of spreading the horse/elephant/dog poo around. At least the dogs just leave it in a neat pile. On balance I think you might be right epy - confine the jobbers

[regent]

Should read joggers

[Epykat]

Should read joggers

No, I like jobbers better!