Retail giant closes ‘important’ store despite ‘playing a crucial role’

Shoppers are devastated after a major retailer closed another local branch.

Major health and beauty retailer Boots announced last year that it plans to close 300 branches for good.

Today the chain will be pulling down the shutters on their North Kenton branch.

Locals in the area have expressed concern over the loss of the store, with one resident forced to start a petition against the closure – which was backed by almost 800 residents

Chi Onwurah, 58, Labor MP for Newcastle upon Tyne Central, has revealed she is worried about her constituents during the store’s closure.

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

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 disproportionately impact elderly and disabled residents who rely on the pharmacy.

Chi Onwurah

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

“Many who rely on pharmacies today will find it difficult to walk that far and transport costs are high, especially at a time of cost of living crisis.”

Many area residents relied on this store for their prescriptions and other medical supplies.

Now, North Kenton residents are concerned about how and where they will get their medications, while other pharmacies are further away.

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

Onwurah added: “This closure will disproportionately impact elderly and disabled residents who rely on the pharmacy. They will face extreme fears and difficult decisions about how to obtain medicines essential to their health.”

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

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

They added: “We are grateful to you for sharing your constituent feedback and I absolutely recognize 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 1.5 miles of the North Kenton branch, with the chain “asking locals to travel further to visit nearby branches”.

Boots offers an NHS prescription delivery service available to “customers who sign up to use the Boots Online Prescriptions Service”.

Which other Boots stores are closing?

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

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

The closures will reduce the number of high street stores in the UK to 1,900.

More locations are predicted to close in 2024, although in many cases the dates could not be confirmed.