Portobello Amenity Society was formed in 1981, succeeding the Abercorn Amenity Association which was formed in 1979. The Society works to improve the general amenity of Portobello and to promote high standards of architecture and town planning in proposed developments. All planning applications for the Portobello and Milton areas are monitored by the Society and responded to if necessary.
In conjunction with Portobello Community Council, the Society has erected a series of information boards along the sea front. These cover a wide range of topics, from birds, the natural history of the beach and the geology of Joppa Rocks to Portobello pottery, the history of Portobello as a seaside resort and two horizon boards. A series of historical building plaques has also been erected throughout Portobello.
In 2007, with the aid of a grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the Society restored and re-erected the three Coade Stone columns which now form the focus of the Community Garden on the Promenade at the foot of John Street.
The Portobello Architecture Heritage Trail, produced in 2011 with Portobello Heritage Trust, was reprinted in 2016 and is available free in several local shops and in Portobello library. A copy of the leaflet can also be downloaded as a PDF from our website.
The Society has monthly meetings and an AGM in June. Members of the public are welcome to all meetings. The Society is represented at meetings of the Edinburgh Civic Forum. For further details, please contact us.
