Green Councillors are proposing that Edinburgh Council should pursue a lifeguard station on Portobello beach, along with a suite of other measures aimed at enhancing the safety of people using the water.
The motion, discussed at a meeting of the Council yesterday, also asked for beach safety and hygiene to form part of the ongoing Portobello Promenade regeneration project which will see improvements to the beachfront.
Green Councillor for Portobello/Craigmillar, Alys Mumford, who brought the motion, said: “The last time Portobello Beach had a safety audit was almost a decade ago.
“In that time, we have seen visitor numbers explode and with it, increased potential for danger as we see more people using the water to swim, sail, and enjoy everything the water has to offer. Edinburgh currently has no lifeguarded beaches, and from conversations with the RNLI, it seems clear that there might be a case for Portobello to be the place to host lifeguards for the city.
“Portobello beach is one of Edinburgh’s jewels, but issues around safety and water quality mean it isn’t able to be enjoyed equally by everyone. This is an issue that is raised with me repeatedly by residents and visitors alike, and I hope this motion goes some way towards making progress.”
The motion also highlights the concerns about sewage incidences impacting on the water and the beach.
Lorenzo Martinico, Scottish Green Party Candidate in the upcoming by-election in Portobello/Craigmillar, has pledged to do more to inform residents about water quality, and endorsed the motion from Cllr Mumford.
Lorenzo Martinico said: “Part of the problem is our ancient sewage system, which the council can’t upgrade on its own without government funding, but in the short-term, we need to make sure that people know when it isn’t safe to go in.
“Currently we have two electronic noticeboards, but they are not necessarily in the places where people are going to go into the water – and even if you do remember to check, SEPA doesn’t test the water often enough for them to be accurate.”
