Well, I think Portobello has suffered the same fate as most seaside towns in the UK and I don’t think we can blame City of Ed entirely for this. Cheap flights abroad, the inclement Scottish weather, changing fashions – there are lots of reasons for its demise as a holiday destination. In general, however, I think most people recognise that following a long period of decline we are currently enjoying something of a mini-renaissance. The Calor Gas ‘community of the year’ award a couple of years ago was well deserved, a local group named ‘Portobello Open Door’ is planning Fringe events this summer and the ‘Golden Days’ festival should be bigger and better this year. Admittedly, in terms of the money that has been poured into Leith and Granton in recent years, we have been left behind somewhat, but at least we have a community of real people and not just a converted warehouse full of yuppies!