Reading neighbour blasts Greggs plan to replace pub

The days of currently vacant George & Dragon pub on Bath Road are numbered as its owning company Greene King recently won approval to demolish it and replace it with a drive-thru.

Kathy Skinner, 51, who has lived next door to the pub since 2008 has expressed dismay at the project, which was approved by Reading Borough Council’s planning department in December.

She fears the drive-thru will increase traffic and litter, while the rise of fast-food options will encourage more unhealthy lifestyles.

Ms Skinner said:  “I’m not going to make this about Greggs, but personally, I thought ‘really a drive-thru Greggs?’. Have you seen the movie Wall-E? That’s the way we are going.”

READ MORE: Plans for Starbucks at busy junction just outside Reading blocked 

The neighbour referenced the Disney film Wall-E where mankind’s obesity had left human beings unable to walk and only using hover chairs.

Ms Skinner also argued that the drive-thru will increase traffic on the already busy Bath Road and litter, the new border fence and tree planting will block her access to sunlight, and floodlights will disturb her sleep.

The approved site plan for the Greggs Drive Thru at the former George and Dragon pub off the Bath Road in Reading. Credit: JDA

She says she could be driven out of her home because of the disruption it will cause. Adding: “The plans show them putting up floodlights which will beam down into my garden.

“There’s also an issue of mental and physical health. It will bring cars within three metres of my back garden. Why should I be inflicted with fumes?

“If I really can’t stand it, depending on the valuation, I will sell up and move.

“I’m not going to stay in Reading when the council makes these decisions.”

READ MORE: Fears over traffic jams as plan to replace George & Dragon pub with Greggs is approved

Ms Skinner has levied her fire at Reading Borough Council’s planning department, accusing staff of failing to notify residents.

She said: “I didn’t see anything on the building in March last year, I only found out because my neighbour told me.

“How were we supposed to oppose this application if we weren’t informed?”

Ms Skinner continued to blast the ‘ridiculous’ plan that ‘brings nothing to the community’ and urged Greene King to come up with an alternative use for the site.

Kathy Skinner, who lives next door to the George and Dragon pub in Bath Road, Reading which is set to be replaced with a drive thru Greggs. Credit: Kathy Skinner

She said: “If it was a pub or restaurant, people sit down with their patrons. It’s bringing nothing but additional traffic and nuisance.

“I think this is a very lazy development that has been approved when something that could have added a lot more benefit to the community could have been delivered.”

The neighbour suggested a better use for the site would be a small parade of three or four shops, an independent cafe and a community garden.

Ms Skinner, who is also a member of the Southcote Community Association, has said she will write to Greene King and Greggs to call for them to reconsider, and is in touch with Southcote councillors.

A spokesperson for Greene King said: “The pub has been closed for almost four years and regrettably even once Covid-19 restrictions were lifted it was not economically viable to reopen.

“We have opted to work with Greggs to bring the area back into use and create a number of local jobs.

“We took our proposal to the council last year and were pleased to receive approval for the scheme.”

Meanwhile, responding to criticism of the approval, a spokesperson for Reading Borough Council said that 204 letters about the plan were delivered, with five objections received in response.

The spokesperson added: “We fully appreciate there may be concerns around traffic, but in reaching a decision it was acknowledged that the existing use was that of an often-busy family pub and, although closed, the building could have reopened for that purpose at any time.

“In this context, the proposed use was deemed acceptable.”

The spokesperson added that conditions will control the proposed opening times from 6am to 11pm and external lighting to protect neighbours.

Addressing the calls to reverse the decision, the council spokesperson said that a third party cannot lodge an appeal, but can initiate a Judicial Review of how a decision is reached.

Greggs has been contacted for comment.