Baker Lynda Miles is fighting a planning application which could see her forced to leave the shop she has built up for 17 years.

Miles Bakery Shop has been in Unsworth, Bury, since 1993, but its lease is up and North Hold Group in Prestwich has applied for permission to demolish the building and build a retail unit served by 16 parking spaces.

Miles said she feared it could become a Tesco store and has won the support of more than 500 customers, who have signed a petition opposing the plan, while another 60 have sent letters to the council. 

“It has come as a big shock,” she said. “I didn’t think the landlord could do that to us – it has hit us all very hard. We cannot relocate, because it took us five years to find these premises and it’s not easy to get somewhere that will accommodate all the equipment and ovens.”

The shop employs a full-time baker and 10 part-time staff whose jobs would be at risk if the plan went ahead, she said. The bakery supplies Miles’ other bakery in Holcombe Brook, Bury. Miles added that she could not face thinking about a back-up plan. “We’re just going to wait and see – and hope – but it has been nice to get so much local support.” 

Bury Council’s planning committee is meeting to discuss the plan in November, said a spokesman.

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