A controversial plan to allow a new Greggs to open at 6am has been approved. 

The bakery chain is relocating its Broad Street outlet to Peach Place on Peach Street in Wokingham having been granted permission last year.  

However, a restriction on the hours of use so that the premises could not operate before 7am has now been lifted. 

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Greggs claim the new store will offer benefits to the community including repurposing a currently vacant unit to benefit customers, reinvigorating the shopping area, providing more food choices to residents and workers, as well as offering new employment opportunities to residents. 

Nevertheless, amendments to the opening hours have been questioned by some residents who believe that the earlier start will be problematic. 

A local resident, Mr Symonds, said: "Earlier opening hours will result in earlier deliveries and noise for local residents.

"Any large lorries parking outside the shop in Peach Street will impede
the traffic as they approach the junction."

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Venta Acoustics were commissioned to assess the potential noise impact of the use on nearby residential buildings.  

The company concluded that the proposed extension of the opening hours is not expected to have an adverse noise impact on residents. 

It stated that the “average noise levels are at a level which would be considered of low impact with partially open windows and would be considerably lower than the existing noise levels in the local area.” 

However, the Town Council committee still believed this to be too early a time to open and were concerned that this could set a precedence for other businesses in the area. 

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The councillor for Emmbrook North Deputy Mayor, Cllr Maria Gee, responded: “Leaving residents, albeit in a town centre location, only five and a half hours of undisturbed sleep is not acceptable.  

“I am not convinced by the noise impact assessment, which does not have due regard to many premises adopting the same opening hours.” 

The plans were eventually approved when the objections were withdrawn after an Officer Report noted that, should there be a request to extend operating hours of any other unit, a separate application would be required.  

Planning officer, Connor Corrigan, stated that “any such application would need to demonstrate that the proposal would not result in noise nuisance.”