Please find here a collective thinking piece we did in submission to the Portas report, this was a couple of months ago, but it would seem that some issues have been picked up. The report was put together by Julian Dobson and was co-produced by:

Urban Pollinators Ltd http://urbanpollinators.co.uk/ (coordinator)

Action for Market Towns http://towns.org.uk/

Empty Shops Network http://www.creativeprocess.org.uk/news/empty_shops/

Incredible Edible Todmorden http://www.incredible-edible-todmorden.co.uk/home

Meanwhile Space CIC http://www.meanwhilespace.com/

MyCard http://towns.org.uk/amt-i/loyalty-cards-shop-local/

Research 00:/ [zero zero] http://www.architecture00.net/

Res Publica http://www.respublica.org.uk/

Wigan Plus http://wiganplus.com/ 

A collective press release is currently in draft form and we will make this public over to you as soon. Until then, our headline thoughts are:

1. welcome the 'right to try' and focus on meanwhile use along the high street. This chimes with our belief that the high street is a place of opportunity, for new ideas and activities beyond shopping and eating. Empty space is the resource that can be used to achieve this. We have pioneered meanwhile use, and whilst delivering the Meanwhile Project (mentioned in the report)

2. Meanwhile uses are an ideal way to incubate new use and pilot new ideas, while animating vacant space.

3. the register of ownership is excellent tool, access to who owns what is often the first barrier to meanwhile activity

4. welcome the overarching principle that people are at the heart of a new and vibrant high street and reducing the bureaucracy for them being the catalyst to re-imagining it. 

If you have any further queries about Meanwhile Space or meanwhile use, please call Eddie Bridgeman on 078100 08526 or contact Julian Dobson on 07545 874556 or email julian@urbanpollinators.co.uk.