Penryn Town Council renewed their support for town centre pharmacies this week after an application was made for yet another new chemist’s in a retail park on the outskirts of town.
Detail on the proposed new pharmacy is scant, except that the application for a licence has been lodged with the Cornwall and Isles of Scilly Primary Care Trust by Nigel Morely - who is a registered pharmacist and owns the industry consultancy firm Surelines Ltd.
It comes on the back of the Asda pharmacy row, which sparked protests earlier this year after the Penryn supermarket opened a makeshift pharmacy in its car park without planning permission from Cornwall Council.
Penryn currently has two town centre pharmacies, one on Market Street and another in Saracen Way, plus Falmouth Health Centre on Trescobeas Road is set to extend its opening hours soon to meet local need.
Councillor Ted Wilkes said: “We have fought hard against this Asda one for a long, long time and we can’t go back on what we have said.”
But councillor John Langan cautioned that the council could be seen as “pushing business away”.
“We must wonder why all these large companies seem to think that there’s a need for other pharmacies in our town,” he said.
“Are we not being blinded by this absolute need to defend a dying high street?
“I’m beginning to wonder if we are right.”
Councillors voted to object to the new pharmaceutical licence being granted “due to the potential adverse impact on the viability and vitality of the town centre.”
Mr Langan abstained.
Read more on the ongoing issue of Penryn's pharmacies:
Asda pharmacy bid goes to appeal
Penryn supermarket opens makeshift pharmacy
Vow to fight Asda pharmacy bid as council planners slammed
Investigation into Penryn supermarket's car park pharmacy scrapped as 'not expedient'
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