‘Deep concern’ as high street giant closes ‘important’ store despite playing ‘vital role – and more will follow

SHOPPERS have been left devastated after a major high street chain closed another local branch.

The major health and beauty retailer, Boots, announced last year it plans to shut 300 sites for good.

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Today the high street chain is set to pull the shutters down on their branch in North Kenton.

Locals living in the area have voiced their concern about losing the store with one resident forced to start a petition against the closure – which was backed by nearly 800 residents

Chi Onwurah, 58, Labour MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, has revealed she’s worried for her constituents amidst the shop’s closure.

“I am writing to you with deep concern following recent news that 300 Boots stores will close,” she wrote in a Letter to the Boots boss.

The MP expressed the community’s reliance on the pharmacy and explained how the closure would make things difficult for North Kenton residents.

This closure will disproportionally affect older and disabled residents who depend on the pharmacy.

Chi Onwurah

The MP explained: “If this planned closure goes ahead, the nearest pharmacies for North Kenton residents will be over a mile away.

“Many who rely on the pharmacy today will find it difficult to walk so far and transport costs are high, especially in a cost of living crisis.”

A lot of residents in the area relied on this store to get their prescriptions and other medical essentials.

Now, North Kenton locals are anxious about how and where they will get their medicines from, with other pharmacies further away.

Just three weeks ago the Boots staff at the North Kenton branch told the MP “they were still administering over 100 prescriptions,” which shows how vital the branch is, she claims.

Onwurah added: “This closure will disproportionally affect older and disabled residents who depend on the pharmacy, they will face extreme anxieties and difficult decisions about how to obtain medications essential to their health.”

A reply on behalf of managing director, Sebastian James was sent to the MP, detailing the health and beauty chain’s regret for the store’s closure but said it will still shut “as planned”.

The branch could no longer operate after the major retailer reviewed all “relevant, financial and property information,” they claim.

They added: “We are grateful to you for sharing your constituent’s feedback and I absolutely recognise the strength of feeling in the local community about the pharmacy closure.”

Boots is working with other local GPs in the area to “support patients” and transfer their medical needs to “alternative pharmacies,” according to their letter.

There are two other Boots stores within 1.5miles of the North Kenton branch, with the chain asking “local residents to travel further to visit nearby branches”.

Boots offers a delivery service for NHS prescriptions which is available for “customers who sign up to use the Boots Online Prescriptions Service”.

Which other Boots stores are set to close?

It comes after the major health and beauty retailer announced its plans to shut 300 branches this year.

Boots has already closed six chemists in 2024 including Wigan, Bryn branch and the store in Cliftonville, Margate.

The closures will see the high street chain stores reduce to 1,900 across the UK.

Further locations have been forecast to close in 2024, although in many cases dates could not be confirmed.

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk