Portobello secures regeneration funding

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 Aug 2009, 12:11

From BBC

Regeneration fund sites revealed

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 Aug 2009, 12:18

The application from Portobello was as follows :

The overall outcome for this project will be the increase in the vitality and viability of Portobello town centre and the provision of a sustainable community for future generations.

Within this, the upgrade of footway, crossing points and kerbs along Portobello High Street from Bridge Street to Pittville Street will improve movement, connectivity and pedestrian safety.

The streetscape improvements along Portobello High Street from Pipe Street to Pittville Street will enhance the attractiveness of the area and increase the vitality and viability of the shops and facilities.

The installation of visitor interpretation signs; fingerpost signs and visitor orientation signs on Portobello High Street, Bridge Street Car Park, Bath Street, Pipe Lane and Portobello Piazza will provide better connectivity between the town centre and the sea front and will attract new visitors.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 06 Aug 2009, 17:50

Good news. When does it start?

Maria · Post by **Maria** » 06 Aug 2009, 19:06

Epykat wrote:Good news. When does it start?

Don't have that info I'm afraid Epykat. I'm hoping it will be a.s.a.p. as they have said in the application that they can deliver by March 2010.
The local Councillors will hopefully be able to provide more details.

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 07 Aug 2009, 13:11

Work will be completed before the end of the financial year - mostly streetscape/ signage improvements. Details available from Economic Development dept.

Pal of Porty · Post by **Pal of Porty** » 07 Aug 2009, 13:14

Where is the no doubt delightful, 'Portobello Piazza'?

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 07 Aug 2009, 19:48

Piazza - not part of this funding. The Town Centre Regen Funding only applies to the town centre as defined in the local plan, the Prom not being within that red line The fund is a one off quick fix injection of cash introduced by the govt to aid town centres in the current economic downturn. The criteria for applications were v. restrictive and to be honest we are lucky to see something come out of it for Porty. The Bid submitted covered two other town centres in Edin City area and neither of those were successful.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 07 Aug 2009, 22:14

Must admit I'm (pleasantly) surprised. Happy to take the money but I would have thought there were other areas within Edinburgh that were more deserving cases. Maybe we benefitted from being tagged along with Craigmillar on this occasion? Or is it to make up for the Seafield Junction debacle?

Puerto bella · Post by **Puerto bella** » 07 Aug 2009, 22:54

We weren't tagged with Craigmillar - the bid was with Tollcross and Leith Central. Craigmillar bid was submitted completely separately by the URC.

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Aug 2009, 12:38

From the EN yesterday:

At Portobello, the council is to use the money to upgrade footpaths, crossing points and kerbs along Portobello High Street from Bridge Street to Pittville Street, in a bid to improve the attractiveness of the area to shoppers.

Robert Gatliff, chairman of Portobello Community Council, said: "It is the centre of a community and a shopping area and we want to attract people here and attract businesses."

Makaveli · Post by **Makaveli** » 08 Aug 2009, 14:06

Well I hope they don't put any more crossing points on that road unless they intend to invite Norris McQuirter along to verify the most number of needless crossing points in one stretch of road world record attempt!!!

Bob Jefferson · Post by **Bob Jefferson** » 08 Aug 2009, 15:34

That could be tricky. According to Wikipedia:

Norris McWhirter died from a heart attack following a tennis match, at his home in Kington Langley, Wiltshire, on 19 April 2004, aged 78.

Epykat · Post by **Epykat** » 08 Aug 2009, 21:13

Bob Jefferson wrote:That could be tricky. According to Wikipedia:

Norris McWhirter died from a heart attack following a tennis match, at his home in Kington Langley, Wiltshire, on 19 April 2004, aged 78.

My earliest memory of being devastated at the death of a celebrity was when Ross McWhirter was murdered by the IRA (I think it was the IRA?)

cuth · Post by **cuth** » 12 Aug 2009, 12:30

Is digging up the High Street really what businesses need? After the months of disruption when the High Street was repaved, closely followed by the Seafield Roundabout fiasco, I would have thought that most businesses would have preferred just to be left alone to get on with it. Is there an option to turn down the offerof funding?

mr magnolia · Post by **mr magnolia** » 12 Aug 2009, 13:44

its gonna dig up the bits that missed out last time - its about equality of opportunity!