FURIOUS members of Saltney Town Council are calling on the Welsh Government to overturn a decision to prevent a new pharmacy being built in the town.
Saltney’s Morrisons supermarket submitted plans to build a pharmacy in the store to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which were unanimously approved.
But after Boots UK and Vittoria Healthcare appealed against the decision, Welsh Government ministers last month ruled the town had sufficient nearby facilities in Broughton and the English side of Saltney to deem another pharmacy unnecessary.
The town authority, which cannot directly appeal against the ruling, agreed in last week’s council meeting to put pressure on the Health Minister Lesley Griffiths, the health board and local Labour politicians Mark Tami MP and Carl Sargeant AM to overturn the decision.
Cllr Ann Lloyd said: “The decision is disgraceful and deplorable. There was a 1,000-name petition to get this pharmacy so I am all for getting this sorted out.”
Saltney town mayor Dave Evans added: “If you look at the figures, 30% of residents do not have a car, so I don’t know how they can say Broughton is nearby and the other pharmacy is only part-time.”
A spokesman for Morrisons said: “Naturally we are very disappointed to learn of the Welsh Ministers’ decision to overturn the decision of the local health board and not grant us the opportunity to open a pharmacy which has considerable support form the local community.
“This decision will continue to disadvantage many people within the area of Saltney, particularly those who have a long-term medical condition, of which there are a higher than number than the national average and who find it difficult accessing pharmacy services.
“We firmly believe the pharmacy service we had planned would bring many benefits for the people of Saltney.
“We intend to review our options with the local health board and the local community on how we can secure the pharmacy service that they both require and deserve.”
