Anger at plans for Northampton pharmacy which wants to open 100 hours a week
CONTROVERSIAL plans to open a new pharmacy in Abington, Northampton, are set to be debated by councillors again after a new application was submitted to extend its opening hours.
Owners of the Abington Health Complex were last month granted permission by a Government inspector to open the new late-night pharmacy in Beech Avenue, despite huge local opposition. Proposals to open the chemist, which will be located close to an existing pharmacy once it opens for trade, were initially turned down by Northampton Borough Council’s planning committee, after it received a flurry of objections.
The decision was then overturned after an appeal to an independent inspector.
However, under the inspector’s ruling the pharmacy was only permitted to open for a total of 96 hours and 45 minutes per week.
Under the terms of the pharmacy’s contract with NHS Northamptonshire it must stay open for a minimum of 100 hours a week. A new application to extend the pharmacy’s opening hours was submitted to the borough council on Friday.
Owners now want to open between 7.30am and 10.30pm on Mondays to Friday, 8am to 10.30pm on Saturdays and 8am to 6.30pm on Sundays and Bank Holidays. If the latest application is turned down the owners could be unable to open for business.
Councillor Anna King (Con, Phippsville) said residents were prepared to fight the proposal once again. She said neighbours were concerned the pharmacy would attract vandalism and late-night anti-social behaviour if it was allowed to stay open into the night.
She said: “We are confused why they put in an application for 96 hours and 45 minutes when they knew they had to open for 100 hours a week. The majority of residents are very upset about what is happening, especially as it is now been agreed by the planning inspector. They feel the decision has been taken out of their control and they are now worried about noise, anti-social behaviour and vandalism. The pharmacy is set to open on Saturday nights and on Sunday and a lot of residents feel they are not going to get a weekend without. Obviously I will represent the people of Phippsville as I did last time.”
To comment on the proposal visit www.planning.north amptonboroughcouncil. com/Planning or email bclarke@northampton.gov.uk, application number N/2012/0058.
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Comments
There are 7 comments to this article
Page 1 of 1
Bonsaiman
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:49 PMShould rephrase when I lived in London. And that was 5 years ago now.
Bonsaiman
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 10:40 PMI tried looking for an out of hours pharmacy last year and really struggled. Most I've seen around London have a intercom locked lobby area at night and a hatch to protect staff and customers. It's not like people will be turning up with bad boy exhausts and bass canons on full!
Finker
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 09:37 AMAaah, Lockets, that will be it. Kids today eh, creating anarchy with their non-prescription legal meds. It will be buying chewing gum next, you mark my words. Hooligans. ;-)
lady muck
Friday, February 3, 2012 at 07:43 AMI remember driving around the town at 9.00 pm trying to find an open pharmacy.....it's not as though it's a pub or a takeaway.....
Chris Lambert
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 09:01 PMFinker it will be all those young hoodies strung out on cough meds and lockets that will be causing the trouble. Seems like a really good idea to me.
Finker
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 06:02 PMSurely if it is open with people using it that reduces vandalism? & are pharmacies well know for encouraging anti-social behaviour?
Pacifist
Thursday, February 2, 2012 at 05:40 PMIts a Pharmacy not an off licence or brothel!!!!! Whats wrong with people? That business could save your life!!! Worried about vandalism...then ask the applicants to show steps to prevent it. Better to have a pharmacy there than someone open a late night fast food joint or off licence!!!!
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