Customers fear Bristol pharmacy will close

Fears are growing that Warmley could lose its only pharmacy, leaving patients without a local chemist.

The pharmacy in the High Street was acquired by the Co-Operative Group two years ago from Bristol- based Ideal Chemists.

Now the group wants to sell the business and its customers are worried about its future if a buyer is not found.

They said alarm bells started to ring when they heard that staff could lose their jobs and the shop would be closing.

Concerned South Gloucestershire councillor Valerie Lee said she contacted the Co-Operative Group and was told there were no plans to shut the premises.

But a representative of the chain asked to meet with her today to discuss the business.

Now a spokesman for the Co-Operative has revealed to the Evening Post that it wants to sell the shop after carrying out a review of all its pharmacy branches to see where savings could be made.

He said: "It does relatively few prescriptions and we need to look at ways of safeguarding its future.

"We are talking to the local primary care trust about essential small pharmacy status, which could bring in extra funding."

Mrs Lee, who represents the Siston ward for the Conservatives, said she was still worried about the future of the pharmacy.

She said: "People who use the pharmacy, especially the elderly, are anxious about losing it.

"If it did go, people would have to travel to Kingswood to find another pharmacy, which would not make it easy for older people or those without transport.

"I'm interested to hear about the possibility of extra funding and there could be a chance for the pharmacy if it was subsidised."

Mrs Lee said among the customers who contacted her was Reg Quantrill, one of the founder members of the Wurzels, who lives locally.

She said: "He uses the pharmacy regularly and is obviously worried that it might disappear."

Chris Skidmore, the Conservative's prospective parliamentary candidate for Kingswood, is campaigning with residents to keep the pharmacy.

He said: 'It is very worrying that this key local service is under threat.

"As with the recent post office closures, the most vulnerable and elderly residents will be hit the hardest if it does close."'

The Co-Operative pharmacy chain is one of the biggest in the UK, with about 800 branches.

When it took over the Warmley premises, it also acquired seven others from Ideal in Bristol and one in Clevedon.

Its other branches include two in Kingswood and one in Staple Hill.