Plans to open a Greggs in one of the world’s “coolest” high streets have been withdrawn after hundreds of objections.
The national chain had planned to take over the former Boots chemist in Northdown Road, Cliftonville, according to plans submitted to Thanet District Council.
The former Boots in Cliftonville. Picture: Google
However, in the face of mounting criticism, the firm has made the as-yet unexplained decision to pull the proposals.
News of the opening sparked a petition started by Jodie Ellena-Lindley, a co-owner of Cliffs coffee shop in Northdown Road.
Within weeks, she had received support from more than 600 people.
She argued big chains can “undercut prices” and “survive losses”, which the independent shops in Cliftonville would not be able to.
“Our local traders can’t compete with that. If this goes ahead, we risk empty shops, lost livelihoods, and the slow erosion of everything that makes our high street unique,” she said.
Greggs has opened in Swanley, creating 15 jobs for the area. Picture: Greggs/Stockgoogle
“Once independents are gone, they’re gone for good.
“Thanet District Council must stand with local people, not big corporations. We need them to protect small businesses, defend local jobs, and preserve the heart and soul of our town.”
The withdrawal means the unit will for now remain vacant – as it has done for the past two years since Boots left.
It is not yet clear if Greggs will reapply in any capacity, having committed to a flurry of new openings in the past year.
Deal, Swanley, Folkestone, Sevenoaks and Dartford all saw branches open recently, while Whitstable prepares to welcome its first-ever Greggs later this year.
With a total of 55 already open or expected to open, Greggs even surpasses McDonald’s, which operates 45 restaurants across the county.
The first-ever Bitesize Greggs opened at Sevenoaks railway station. Picture: Greggs
Cliftonville has a proud reputation for its commitment to its independent businesses, and the coastal area of Margate is often praised for its “edgy feel”.
Northdown Road – the main route through Cliftonville – is one of Kent’s most deprived areas, and connects the neighbourhood to Margate town centre.
But it has been likened to hipster hotspots in East London by Time Out, which rated it one of the “coolest” high streets in the world.
It said: “The area fell on hard times in the 1980s and has been making a slow-and-steady comeback ever since.
“Today, it has an edgy feel not unlike a street you’d find in East London (there’s good reason Margate’s been dubbed Shoreditch-by-the-sea).”