A big "Welcome to Edinburgh" on the Prom; Ad boards

[administrator]

[Bazza]

Nice one Paul. Especially the adverts. And why not "Welcome to Portobello", instead of "Welcome to Edinburgh"?

[Porty]

Great ideas!!

[Makaveli]

I think that is a very good idea.

[Lambie]

I think the idea was born out a frustration at Edinburgh Council's apparent ambivalence towards Portobello as a tourist destination. The lack of any sign, in the city, pointing to the beach. Tourist Information send people down the coast to Gullane and Yellowcraigs completely bypassing Portobello beach. I think "Welcome to Edinburgh", visible from the Edinburgh airport flight path forms an incontrovertible link between the beach and the city. Maybe it could read "Edinburgh's Seaside" but I quite like the explicit friendliness in "Welcome to Edinburgh". "Edinburgh's Seaside" makes a statement but "Welcome to Edinburgh is just warm. It's friendly. Visitors arriving in Edinburgh would spot it from their plane, smile and make sure to come down to the prom to find the sign. Tourists aside I think my heart would swell up to almost bursting if I'd been away from home and realised on the flight back that we'd be approaching over Porty and I might get a glimpse of the sign.

[Pal of Porty]

The welcome sign would be easier to read from a plane if it was facing the other way as this would make it the correct way round with regard to the flight path into Edinburgh.

[Lambie]

Don't they fly over Porty and out to the Forth before doing a big curve and coming back? I'm sure that's how it looked to me last time but I've not come in that way for a while. So that if the passengers on the left looked out their windows it'd be the right way up for them. Also, this way round kind of faces out to sea.

Is anyone going to be on a plane any time soon to check? I've been trying to figure out how to contact pilots or cabin crew who might be able to check this for me. Can anyone help? Maybe that part of the prom wouldn't be seen at all. I need to check this so if you have any leads get in touch.

[wangi]

[Bob Jefferson]

[Lambie]

You guys are quite amazing.

[Mark Cameron]

I think this is a fantastic idea Paul. I'd posted similar back in February this year along with some other suggestions for raising awareness of Porty .

My comments were also borne out of the same desire and frustrations to see Porty recognised by ECC as something special in Edinburghs locker and I'd suggested putting big letters on the roofs of the buildings down on the front but your suggestion seems way more sensible.

The puzzle for me is what is needed to bring this about? It's good to hear the PCC are receptive to the idea - would this need consent from Edinburgh council, does there need to be community engagement etc? With regards the actual words I'd initially thought 'Welcome to Portobello Beach' but take your point. What I wonder though is when a tourist lands at Edinburgh Airport and asks someone "I saw a sign saying 'welcome to edinburgh' at a beach" would they always be directed to Porty?

If some more of the prom was used plus the space you've used in your mock up could it say:

Welcome to Portobello
Edinburgh's Seaside

Maybe it could even be a piece of art?

Re your bigger point about raising the profile of Porty it seems to me that there are a lot of people in our community who have great ideas and energy but there's not one central group looking at the 'big picture' or 'vision' or whatever you want to call it and engaging with the community and Edinburgh council to take Porty on that journey. Does there need to be a Community Trust, separate from the P.C.C., comprising representatives of the in the community (something that has been mentioned on these boards previously). The trust could have a remit of engaging with the community to understand the vision and set out a plan for Porty and work towards this with the input from the appropriate people?

All of these ideas are easy to type but making them happen and that group then being a positive force for the good of the whole community is a more challenging prospect.

I'm happy to help if I can.

[Puerto bella]

So many good ideas. A leader is what's needed to push them forward. My vote goes to Paul - he's good at making good things happen.

[Mark Cameron]

Paul certainly seems to have the drive to make things happen.

We're a big community with (quite rightly) a lot of competing views. The trick is to bring about positive change through consensus and engagement which I don't think can be achieved by one person. Positive change can be influenced by a large enough group engaging with, listening to (and ultimately delivering) for their community. It's whether there is the will to do that in Porty?

When looking at the PCC's purpose that doesn't appear to be the right 'forum' for the bigger picture stuff so perhaps something else is needed?

[Grunk]

How about "Welcome to Edinburgh by the Sea" ?

I think it's a good idea, and it will be entertaining to see what rude phrases the wee scrotes can come up with by adding white lines here and obscuring a bit there.

[Lambie]

The Evening News phoned me up to ask about this and then sent round a photographer who's just left with a memory card full of photos of me looking like a gimp with a paint roller. It seemed like a good opportunity to get more people talking about the idea (The Welcome to Edinburgh idea not the idea of me being a gimp).

My original intention had been to go out at night with some mates and write “Welcome to Edinburgh” with rollers and paint. I definitely agree with mcdryburn about consensus and community engagement but I also think there's a lot to be said for just getting stuck in.

The volume of paint and time involved in rollering “WELCOME TO EDINBURGH” meant that it probably wouldn't all have dried by morning and the Towerbank school parade would have tracked white footprints all along the prom. If I could have figured out how to do this quickly and neatly and without ruining school shoes, I'd have done it by now on my own. I’m starting to think doing it as a community could be more fun.

Let’s look for ideas other mine. We should invite suggestions for what to write, and how and then vote on it. Let’s also set a deadline though. Fun like this shouldn’t require endless debate.

How about we aim to get this done by the end of March? Nicely in place for the 2012 summer season?

[Lambie]

Also, the photos were taken along by the MASSIVE graffiti piece next to the bowling centre. That wasn't me but I do think the writer did a great job. What does it say though?

[seanie]

I think a Development Trust might be a good idea. The PCC is somewhat constrained by its statutory function.

[Porty]

Paul there are a couple of guys who live near the prom, both Towerbank parents and each has their own roadmarking business. They would therefore have access to the neccessary equipment quick drying paint etc. Both are community spirited types and im pretty sure they would help. Perhaps Pcc could contribute some money as they have done in the recent past. . I can put u in touch.

[Lambie]

Thanks Porty, if you send me contact details I'll get in touch. It would be good to get an idea of how much it might cost.

[Makaveli]

I am flying back to the UK tomorrow so will keep an eye out when we fly over the beach to see if you have managed to roller onto the promenade overnight Lambie!!!!

[Lambie]

Great news Makaveli,

Keep your eyes peeled for our proposed site. It might be that there's a better point on the prom so eyes peeled, open mind and fingers crossed for a favourable wind.

I really enjoyed typing that last line.

[Makaveli]

If I manage to get a window seat I will try and take a couple of snaps with my phone.

Not promising anything like as I have no control over my seat on the flight!!!

[Lambie]

Explain that you have an important socio-geographic study to perform. Maybe make a "Portobello Science Club" card out of magazine clippings. Here's hoping.

[Pal of Porty]

Paul- will pass on details.

What do you think of a simple "Welcome" without the edinburgh or portobello? It would make people curious.

Probably a crap idea but it woould also cost less!

Should we form a Welcoming committee?

[Lambie]

I like a little mystery but I still think there's a lot of value in Edinburgh's Seaside. I think the strength lies in forming a link in tourists minds between the beach and the city of Edinburgh. When they get here we can blow them away with all the Portobello we like.

I think not shouting "Portobello" makes for a degree of exclusivity. The tourists are coming to Edinburgh the sign will lead them to the beach and that's when they discover Portobello.

I was in New York recently and figuring out when we were in Tribeca or Hell's Kitchen or The East Village was part of the fun of discovering the city. There's also a sense of pride in knowing where those places are. You earn it by exploring.

I think Welcome to Edinburgh says everything we need without over stating. Guide books can read "If you're lucky enough to be approaching Edinburgh Airport from the East keep a look out for the Welcome to Edinburgh sign at Portobello Beach".

Has anyone seen the Evening News yet? I almost hope the story's not in. It was NOT my idea to pose with a paint roller.

[Porty]

OOPS- was logged in as POP in error. Same goes for the PM I just sent you. (Working on POP's PC)

[Bob Jefferson]

I quite like the idea of the letters being painted in different colours to give a seaside, candy effect.

[Porty]

Sounds like a job for BTOTB.

[Bob Jefferson]

Not in today's EN Paul. They must be saving it for the Monday edition.

[Lambie]

Or maybe they've decided to shelve the story in favour of something with a less gimpy photo subject.

[Bob Jefferson]

I wouldn't have bothered if I'd known. That's 50p you owe me now.

[Lambie]

I'm good for it Bob

[Mark Cameron]

Does anyone know what height the planes heading in to land are at on approach over Porty. Would be a shame to go to all the effort if it's not legible.

I think the idea of inviting suggestions is a good one and I agree that it shouldn't drag on - an inspirational leader at my work introduced a term "J.F.D.I."* soon after she arrived and became exasperated by the amount of time being wasted by decisions going through committee after endless committee when they should and could have been made way sooner and without involving so many people. Why not post your idea on the Porty People Facebook page Paul and see if that drums up some ideas and engagement?

I like the idea of a Development Trust Seanie and will look to see how in practice these can be put in place. Is this something that's ever come up as being a requirement from any of the PCC meetings? Is there the will or desire for such a thing for Portobello?

*Just F***ing Do It

[Bob Jefferson]

Agree, very frustrating and one of the reasons I gave up on the CC. It seems they have been so busy fire-fighting planning apps they don't like over the last few years that there is no time to actually do anything positive in Portobello. Throw in the internal divisions and there is little chance of agreeing on anything. Problem is though, that to qualify for any sort of funding you need to demonstrate community support through extensive consultation. Which is why I favour Paul's low cost DIY approach. JFDI indeed.

[Lambie]

I've been told 750-1000m which is what I based my mock ups on. It's just visible at 1000m and very clear at 750m. Welcome to Edinburgh was chosen as much for it's social and potential economic benefits as for the strong and easily legible letter shapes.

If you offer endless choices it will require endless debate to sort through them. Simple effective action gets things done.