our high streets and shopping habits have
changed over the last decade
so what do we do with the empty shops
the abandoned spaces?
and there are interesting projects going on
all over the country:
into an opportunity' by working with landlords
to allow local enterprises and community projects
temporary free-of-charge access to those spaces
community projects like FoodCycle
who create amazing meals from food waste
for people affected by food poverty
giving 16-25 year olds a place to hang out or
take part in workshops:
much needed in most towns!
how about a free book shop on your high street?
take a book away, leave one behind
it's not all about spending money or filling our bags
with shopping
what about community, contact and a sense
of belonging
Mary Portas touched on this in her review into the
she recognises the potential in the future entrepreneurs
and the need for community and creativity:
imagine an abandoned shopping centre as a
place to create, a place to skate
artists taking over high rise awaiting demolition
floors and floors of studios
empty shops as pop-ups for small businesses
and start-ups:
a whole shop or just a small corner
when I was younger, we wanted to go into town:
it was a meeting place
somewhere to linger, talk and be:
I think we need to bring that back before our high streets
turn into ghost towns
Sadly it's thanks to the 21st century cathedral,the shopping mall
ReplyDeleteindeed but even those have empty units:
ReplyDeleteone in Basildon Eastgate Centre is now a community gallery which in my view, is far better than any shop that was there!
"If you build it, they will come"
ReplyDeleteDid Jim Morrison say that in Waynes world? I can't recall. Sounds biblical
In my view it's something much older than malls or the internet.
Greed.
I saw a sign in my gentrified neighbourhood that said "Buy To Live"
Sean