‘Disaster’ as Boots to close multiple locations this month starting in HOURS before 300 stores shut permanently

ONE of the UK’s most popular health and beauty retailers is to shut 300 stores over the next year – with some happening in just hours.

Boots is closing another seven stores this month as part of wider plans to evolve its brand.

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However, patients have described the planned closures in Devon and Plymouth as a “disaster”. 

Supporters of the health and beauty store argue that the closure of the stores will make it more difficult for patients to access pharmaceutical services. 

Andrew from Exeter said he and his father’s health issues prevent them from accessing a pharmacy further away.

He told the BBC: “I have mobility issues. My dad, who’s 98 years old, has severe disability issues.

“To close that pharmacy would be a disaster for us.”

Community Pharmacy England has also expressed concerns about a rapid increase in pharmacy closures across the UK. 

Chief executive, Janet Morrison, said: “This is a trend that we have seen over the last seven years. Over 1,000 have closed and that process seems to be accelerating.

“That is really a result of a crushing funding environment for the sector, seeing a 30% cut in real terms from their NHS funding, and they can’t really sustain their businesses.”

Residents have since started campaigns to prevent some of the expected Boots closures. 

Campaigner Daniel Husseini told Surrey Live: “People were talking about how vital it is and the added pressure that would be on the other stores.”

Farncombe Village has seen success with a campaign to prevent their branch from closing after councillors and an MP got involved, according to Surrey Live.

Boots has said there is an alternative store less than three miles away in all cases of planned closures. 

The pharmaceutical giant has stated there will be no redundancies made as a result of the closures. 

Affected Boots staff members have been offered opportunities in other stores in the local area.

Where are the closures happening?

Here is the full list of stores closing by the end of the year:  

• Windhill Road, Wakefield – October 6
• Upper Warrengate, Wakefield – October 7
• Glastonbury – October 13
• Uppingham Road, Leicester – October 13
• Guildford Road, Woking – end of October
• Kings Square, York – October 28
• Warminster – October 28
• Gorleston, Great Yarmouth – November
• High Row, Darlington – November 3
• Mudge Way, Plymouth – November 18
• Mount Pleasant, Exeter – November 18
• Front Street, Prudhoe – no date

The stores that have already closed in 2023 are as follows:

• Salford Shopping Centre, Greater Manchester – February 2023
• Church Street, Malvern – March 11
• The Port Arcades Shopping Centre, Ellesmere – March 11
• King William Street, London – June 2
• Heathside Road, Woking – end of July
• UEA campus – end of July
• Hamlet Court Road, Westcliff – August 1
• Holywell, Flintshire (Wales) – August 26

Boots closed more than 200 stores over an eighteen-month period starting in 2019.

This meant around eight per cent of its high street stores closed. 

This post first appeared on thesun.co.uk