Dear Mayor Wootton,
Congratulations on the purchase of Debenhams and opening it up ready for business to move in.
Read: Former Debenhams ‘open for business’ as ground floor available for rent
This is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to create meaningful change in Bedford and to imaginatively future-proof the town centre as an exciting destination for years to come.
For almost 15 years, Bedford has been at the forefront of empty shop use, thanks to the collaboration of council, business and community.
From the Castle Quay Weekender in 2011 to Pride of Place (POP) Bedford last summer, the creative use of slack spaces has drawn the attention of Dan Thompson (author of Empty Shops for Dummies), Mary Portas and the Arts Council.
From pop-up record shops to art galleries, working art studios to exhibition spaces, there is a legacy in Bedford of creating change through imagination and collaboration.
There is also a huge wealth of knowledge, experience and talent on our doorstep that I urge you to make use of.
In fact, the owners of Bedford Heights are responsible for the incredible transformation of the former Debenhams building in Bournemouth, as referenced in this article in The Guardian last week.
As with many of their regeneration projects, they spent time speaking to local traders and residents to see what they wanted, created interest from potential occupiers and visitors and above all created a destination, all through interesting ‘meanwhile’ uses.
It was a gradual and progressive process and was not achieved overnight.
Therefore, I urge you to work with Bedford’s business leaders and the Borough’s creative community as you organically develop the Debenhams building.
There are some really talented and capable Bedfordians who could help make this a real success.
I urge you to be playful in planning its future.
I urge you to think outside the box and not rely on tired retail concepts and been-there-seen-it-done-it food halls.
I urge you to be dynamic in your vision for what could be a jewel in Bedford Town Centre’s crown, something your councillors have criticised other organisations of not doing.
Read: Time running out for BedfordBID as Borough Council withdraws support
Make it a place of constant change and innovation, somewhere residents and visitors can return to time and time again. Allow it to be a catalyst to fire up the town centre, not a meaningless cash cow for the council.
Appeal to all ages, from families to teenagers to pensioners, and – most importantly – to all budgets.
Work with anyone and everyone that has a vision for the space. Be bold. But most of all, make Bedford proud.
Make us proud that our town centre is moving forward and not stuck in the past.
Erica Roffe.
Co-founder and co-managing editor: Bedford Independent
Founder: The Bedford Clanger
Co-founder: BedPop Fun Palaces/Science Labs/Record Shop, Taste Bedford, Bedford Flea, Castle Quay Weekender, We Are Bedford
