Town loses battle to stop Greggs opening on its high street

Residents in one posh market town have lost a bitter battle to stop a Greggs store opening on their high street.

The new Greggs opened its doors in Swaffham, Norfolk, last month, replacing a budget furniture store which closed last year.

But local residents battled hard to try and stop the chain opening, gaining more than 1,000 signatures on a petition trying to do so.

Locals fear that the hugely-popular chain will drive business away from family-run businesses in the area – such as Wellbread Bakers

A regular customer at Wellbread, Karl Chappell, started the petition.

The local bakery has been situated in Swaffham for decades, and its loyal customers have now pledged to boycott the new Greggs in alliance with their favourite bakers.

Emma Godfrey, who runs the bakery alongside her husband Andy, said their business would be forced to make redundancies if passing trade was lost to the chain.

She said: ‘If Greggs decide in a year’s time that they don’t want to stay open in Swaffham, losing small businesses for the sake of one isn’t good for the town.

‘We are making enough money to pay for our outgoings and just enough to keep going.

‘But if a big enough portion of our takings are lost, we’re going to have to look at different way to cut our costs.’

Ms Godfrey too believes that the new Greggs branch will stop customers trying to find ‘hidden gems’ in the town.

She added: ‘Greggs isn’t a bakery per se as it is also a large chain coffee shop.

‘We have lots of independent coffee shops already. For visiting trade, people see a name they know and go in there rather than explore a little hidden gem.

‘Locals like to support people they know and they’d rather buy in places where they know where the money is going.

‘We have 14 team members here and every single one lives within 5 miles of Swaffham. It’s a shame this could be lost.’

The Greggs had opened last month without planning permission, with locals hoping this may prompt Swaffham County Council to take action against the branch.

But town hall chiefs went the opposite way – granting the bakery the retrospective permission to remain open.

Swaffham Town Council have no objections to the proposal.

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