Pharmacy will stay in superstore

SUPERMARKET bosses today emphatically denied rumours they would be closing an in-store pharmacy in Felixstowe.

Morrisons gave the reassurance to customers and residents of the west side of the resort after fears were voiced that it would be the next service to go.

The company has already been heavily criticised for axing the in-store post office, which served a catchment of around 8,000 people plus all the businesses at Felixstowe port.

It has also refused to renew the lease of the BASIC Life charity shop at the complex – a project which has raised £60,000 for needy causes in Felixstowe in the past five years but will now need to find new premises.

County councillor David Rowe is seeking assurances from Morrisons over the future of the in-store pharmacy at the superstore in Grange Farm Avenue.

He said: "I have been told of concerns that Morrisons may close the pharmacy. "The pharmacy is located near to the doctors' surgery and there is no alternative provision nearby.

"If it were to close it would make it very difficult for the people on Cavendish Park and Orwell Green easily to get their prescriptions – if you are unwell or elderly you don't want to have to travel into town to get your prescription."

But a spokesman for Morrisons said the company would be keeping the pharmacy as part of its redevelopment and refurbishment of the store.

He said: "I can confirm that there are no plans at all to close the pharmacy."

The company was not prepared to run the post office though it would have been happy for someone else to have run it on site, while the decision not to renew the lease of the charity shop was part of the overall redevelopment of the store.

The company, which has created 120 new jobs since taking over the store last September, has said it is trying to create the best shopping environment it can.