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9 November 2026
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Portas Pilot

Letters: “Landlords should be required to actively fill empty units in our High Streets”

For as long as Bedford has people who love and support its independents, and for as long as Bedford has the creative and inspiring people who lead so much business in the...
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Letters: A reply from Mary Portas

Firstly thank you. For all you have done to reinvigorate and believe in great local community retail. I’m always happy to give a nudge to a landlord, to the Government...
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Opinion: An open letter to Mary Portas

Dear Mary, Bedford was part of the Portas Pilot project 10 years ago and it is my belief that it had a long-term and transformational effect on Bedford. When Radio 4's You and Yours...
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Increase of independent shops in Bedford highlighted by BBC Radio 4 investigation

The rise in the number of independent shops in Bedford town centre has been highlighted in an investigation by BBC Radio 4's You and Yours programme...
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Opinion: The death of the High Street has been greatly exaggerated*

According to research, around 16 stores closed their doors every day in the first half of 2019 while only nine opened. This has seen a net decline of 1,234...
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