Pies and prejudice!
A Greggs in Bath’s historic heart... What would Jane Austen say?
A fashionable Georgian road mentioned in the novels of Jane Austen, Milsom street is now bath’s most prestigious shopping area.
Well-heeled customers can be found dipping in and out of its designer shops, luxury boutiques and upmarket restaurants.
but the rumoured arrival of a very different sort of outlet has sent a ripple of disapproval along the street’s graceful 18th century terraces.
Residents fear an empty bank is about to be turned into a branch of Greggs, the bakery chain famed for cheap sausage rolls and steak bakes.
The Grade-ii listed premises at number 36 Milsom street has stood empty for 15 months, but bath and north east somerset Council has won approval to allow a restaurant or cafe there – known in town hall jargon as an A3 establishment.
Rumours of the imminent arrival of Greggs have since spread like wildfire among campaign groups bath Watchdog and the bath Preservation Trust.
They fear the reputation of the street could be tarnished. Milsom street is just around the corner from where Jane Austen lived in the early 1800s and she wrote about it in her novels northanger Abbey and Persuasion.
Today its shops include Ted baker, Reiss, hobbs, Whistles and The Kooples, as well as a number of independent boutiques and restaurants. The bath Watchdog group said: ‘Milsom street was built as one of bath’s grand setpieces. it has always been one of the busiest, most popular and prestigious shopping streets in the city.
‘it will not take much … for the reputation of a shopping destination to disappear.’ The bath Preservation Trust said: ‘Milsom street is a primary shopping street and has a distinct character as such. The shopping use is part of its special historic interest.
‘The proposal to include an A3 use is inappropriate and unwanted and would harm the special historic interest.
‘An A3 use could lead to legitimate but inappropriate food businesses within what is bath’s most prestigious shopping street.’
however, local authority planning officers backed the application. They said: ‘The unit is currently vacant and has a deadening effect on the street. Allowing a new use will help to preserve and enhance both the listed asset and the conservation area.’
The plans have divided opinion on social media with some contributors accusing critics of snobbery.
however, Veronica Wardell said: ‘Totally and utterly inappropriate. bath dumbing down.’ Teresa fowler added: ‘if we allow the whole of bath to have the same shops as every other town/city, what is going to keep people coming here? i am pretty sure they didn’t travel all this way to get a pasty at Greggs.’
shaun Uphill wrote: ‘All the council needs to do is reduce rents and support local businesses.’
According to the application, Milsom street was developed between 1761 and 1783. homes started being converted into shops in 1803.
Greggs declined to comment.