Greggs meets its match as hundreds oppose plans to open new store in town centre --[Reported by Umva mag]

Hundreds of residents in a pretty 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 locals who say big name businesses aren’t welcome in their town.

Residents in the Georgian market town have rushed to sign a petition opposing the plan and to protect a popular family bakery.

Well Bread Bakers, in Swaffham, Norfolk, are amongst hundreds of residents objecting to the proposals for the bakery-chain to set up shop.

They have 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.

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 ways 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 5 miles of Swaffham. It’s a shame this could be lost.’

Well Bread Bakers have been a favourite in Swaffham for the last 40 years – with Andy Godfrey, 61, taking over the business in 2002 after working there most of his life.

Mum-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.

‘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 is 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 around 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.

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