Locals launch fight to close pharmacy

7:38pm Thursday 15th May 2008

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Villagers are battling against a doctor's surgery over fears it will steal business from the village pharmacy.

The campaign by people living in Newick, near Lewes, was launched after Newick Health Centre's Chailey surgery began dispensing prescription drugs last month.

People fear the new service so close to Lloyd's Chemist in the centre of Newick will remove passing trade from the village, causing a knock-on effect for other shops.

Leaflets have been distributed around Newick and names are being collected for a petition to close the surgery's dispensing unit.

The petition will be delivered to East Sussex Downs and Weald Primary Care Trust, which runs the surgery and has given a deadline of May 28 for appeals.

Unlike some villages Newick is self sufficient, retaining its bakery, butchers and general store. Without these businesses people in the village would be forced to travel up to seven miles to shops in Haywards Heath.

There are also fears Lloyds Chemist's home-delivery medicine service, which many people depend on, will close if it is forced out by the new competition.