Hundreds of residents in a Georgian market town are up in arms over plans to open a Greggs store on their high street.
Plans for the bakery-chain to move into a vacant unit in Swaffham, Norfolk, has led to anger among by locals who say big name businesses are not welcome.
Residents in the pretty market town have rushed to sign a petition opposing the plan and to protect popular family bakery Well Bread Bakers.
The local shop has been a firm favourite in Swaffham for the last 40 years with many residents opting to shop local.
A petition, set up by local resident Karl Chappell, has reached 961 signatures in opposition to the proposal to open the Greggs – and keep the ‘heart’ of the town.
The proposed site for sale where a new Greggs could open its stores in Swaffham
Emma and Andy Godfrey, pictured, owners of Well Bread Bakers in Norfolk
The pair revealed they may be forced to make redundancies if people choose to go to Greggs instead
Locals in the town say there is no need for the bakery chain as ‘big name businesses are not welcome’ (stock image)
Hundreds of residents in the pretty market town are up in arms over the proposed new Greggs
Emma and Andy Godfrey, owners of Well Bread Bakers, said their small business could be forced to make redundancies if people chose to go to Greggs.
Emma, 35, 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. 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 five miles of Swaffham. It’s a shame this could be lost.’
Mr Godfrey, 61, took over Well Bread Bakers in 2002 after working there most of his life.
Mother-of-two Emma added: ‘Wage and energy costs are at an all time high and small businesses like us are having to fight to survive.
‘We sell filled rolls and hot food – with Greggs coming in that is going to affect our take-ins. We’d have to make redundancies as we can’t keep putting our prices up.
Many residents in Swaffham have chosen to shop locally instead of at a chain
Well Bread Bakers has been a firm favourite in Swaffham for the last 40 years
Mr and Mrs Godfrey pictured with the petition opposing the proposal to open the Greggs – and keep the ‘heart’ of the town
Marian Gibson, 73, said: ‘I don’t think we need it. We’ve got a good bakers and we don’t need the competition’
Ms Gibson added: ‘Swaffham should stay as a market town – we’ve already got loads of supermarkets and we need to keep these small family shops running’
A look at the planning application for a new Greggs stores to potentially open
‘I’m 35 and I have two children at school. This is mine and my husband’s only source of income.
‘It pays our mortgage and everything we do with our children. We can’t just shut the doors and jump into another job. My husband’s skill is in baking.
‘I don’t think the town council for Swaffham is bothered and neither are Breckland.
‘They don’t want an empty shop and we understand that as business people. But one shop isn’t worth losing three more.
‘We’re now in an economy where the two adults in a household need to work. People don’t have time to go and look round the shops on a Friday afternoon.
‘Without support, small businesses aren’t going to be around anymore.
‘We are concerned for the future of our own business but also for other local independent businesses in the town.’
Marian Gibson, 73, has lived on the outskirts of Swaffham for 40 years and said there was no need for Greggs when the town already had its own independent businesses.
She said: ‘I don’t think we need it. We’ve got a good bakers and we don’t need the competition.
‘Swaffham should stay as a market town – we’ve already got loads of supermarkets and we need to keep these small family shops running. I think the council should be doing more.’
Swaffham Town Council have no objections to the proposal.