Yesterday I read the announcement in the superb online local news feed of Guardian Edinburgh, that The Guardian intends to wind down the local sites for Leeds, Cardiff and Edinburgh over the next month or so, then stop them.

I was, and still am, horrified. I'm also baffled. There's a distinct feeling of betrayal in there too, not just to the communities who've benefitted from being freed from London's centrifugal force, but to the journalists who have worked so hard on this project.

I can testify that Guardian Edinburgh has transformed the way l fit into this city. I hear about events, organisations and people I'd otherwise have missed, I've met all kinds of people both online and in person, and I've even had the opportunity to guest blog on several occasions, which not only let me share Portobello events with the rest of Edinburgh, but it also gave me valuable career experience.

If this really was an experiment, then the results are conclusive: the Guardian Locals are an overwhelming and irreplaceable success. There will be a way to continue them, and we'll find it.