Gateway Hampshire Comments On Community Signing Up To Porty Improvement Petition

April 13, 2012 - PRLog -- Spring season is upon us which means the summer is fast approaching. The summer months brings heat waves, good weather and plenty of beach time, many of us will have the idea in our heads that to get plenty of R&R at a nice beach will mean having to spend thousands of pounds on a holiday but in times of a recession Edinburgh are one step ahead as a 200 strong petition has been signed and approved to turn their beach from drap to fab just in time for the glorious weather. A source at Gateway Hampshire has said “ The community have all got together and have spoken clearly, with such a mild winter many are on the hopes for the best summer the UK can provide and with the start of spring being as magnificent as it has who could blame them.”

Public arts group Big Things on the Beach’s (BTOTB) Manifesto for Portobello Promenade rallies candidates for the City of Edinburgh Council’s May election to value and invest in the beach and prom, which were once held as a prime holiday spot. The group hope to spur on the local authority’s 30-year Edinburgh Promenade project to create a 17km walkway between Granton and Joppa as well as encourage a reconsideration of their proposed Public Art Strategy to enhance the shore. Campaigners believe Portobello promenade could attract significant cultural and economic investment if the council would commit to their vision, which focuses on its physical redevelopment as well as the implementation of public arts projects.  The group have said “It’s not exactly a petition; it’s an opportunity for people to say that they support the manifesto,” explained Damien Killeen, “We’re going to use the responses as part of the conversation we have with the council after the May elections.”

The arts collective hope that this kind of activity could help the faded tourist destination become a ‘vibrant place that attracts cultural activities. Previous works commissioned on the beach by BTOTB have included Black Swan, a series of fruit machines arranged along the seaside, and a giant inflatable ‘avatar’ of the town itself. Marketing director for Gateway Hampshire said “Art is a great way to boost tourism in any Country or City as it always makes the place stand out, When choosing holidays tourists will more often than not take into consideration the sights and if there is loads to see the more people will come to see it, BTOTB are thinking in the right direction art is good also as the community will also have a say on the art the is placed.”

Joanne Simpson, 34, has lived in the area for five years. She said: “I think using art is good idea; it gets people down just to have a look at things. Anything that brings in a different group of people who don’t normally come down here is probably worthwhile”. Another resident had this to say “I think the beach is as popular as ever at the weekends and bank holidays when the weather’s good. The beach is kept OK and the general prom’s fine, but they could maybe spend a bit more on facilities for kids.”

Bogdan Adamczyk, 34, originally from Krakow, moved to nearby Milton Road ten years ago, and thinks the seaside’s attractions have already begun to develop.He said: “It’s slowly improving. The Espy and other businesses have popped up and I think they’ve brought other people in. Before there was nothing really, just promenade. The more people that come in the more spending they’ll do, and the High Street will benefit from that too.”

Kirsty Whitlie, who opened boutique and coffee shop The Front Room with sister Eilie Colville two years ago, agreed that improvements could help their trade, but that a more integrated approach was needed.  “The prom’s great but there’s so much more here. There are parks and plenty of shops and history. It is an up-and-coming area.” Our source for Gateway Hampshire said “The residents of this area are very excited about what is in store for their beach, anything that could boost tourism and bring equity into the community can only be a plus, and we at Think Marketing cannot wait to see the outcome and the boost these pieces of art will bring.”

http://local.stv.tv/edinburgh/news/features/32049-communi...

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