Jennyfields residents have expressed concerns about the forthcoming closure of the Boots pharmacy in the Co-op.
The Stray Ferret reported last month Boots planned to close 300 UK stores, with those in close proximity to other sites run by the company most at risk.
But the loss of the facility has upset locals — and heightened fears about the future of retail in Jennyfields, where many shops are shut.
The nearest Boots pharmacies will be in Harrogate town centre, Knaresborough Market Place, St James’s Retail Park and Market Place West in Ripon when the one in Jennyfields closes.
Freda Roach, a nearby resident, described the loss of the pharmacy as a “great blow to the local community” and a “retrograde step”, adding:
“[The pharmacy] is used by a great number of Jennyfields people who do not have a car and use the bus or walk.
“I for one will be very upset when the branch is closed as the nearest pharmacy is not in walking distance, and relying on buses will make it half a day’s job having to travel into Harrogate.”
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Another Jennyfields resident, David Smith, said the move was “ridiculous”.
He said:
“I have been going there for prescriptions for at least 30 years. It is always busy and recently you usually have to queue.
“In addition, I understand that the next nearest surgery at Killinghall is closing.
“We are going backwards rather than forwards.”
‘A popular and busy pharmacy’
Councillor Michael Harrison, a Conservative who represents Killinghall, Hampsthwaite and Saltergate on North Yorkshire Council, was also “disappointed” by the news.
He told the Stray Ferret:
“I was very disappointed to hear that Boots intend to close the pharmacy located in the Jennyfields Co-op – and I have asked the public health team at the council to consider what representations we need to make to NHS England, who are responsible for ensuring pharmacy provision is adequate.
“This is a very popular and busy pharmacy.”
Three out of four units are closed at the Jennyfield Drive site.
One Stray Ferret social media follower commented to say the centre used to be a “thriving little area”. But three out of four units on the Jennyfield Drive site, as well as the Stone Beck pub, are closed.
The prospect of a new Tesco supermarket a mile away has also fuelled concerns about the future of retail in Jennyfields.
But Cllr Harrison said:
“Jennyfields is a vibrant housing estate, and is more than capable of supporting quality businesses in this location – I am keen to understand what the landlords’ plans are to ensure the future attractiveness and viability of the units.”
A spokesperson for the Co-op said the use of the space occupied by the pharmacy is “being reviewed” and “no decisions have been taken at this stage”.
Twenty UK Boots stores have already closed in line with the new plan – four of which are in Yorkshire.
Boots declined to comment on the Jennyfields closure when approached by the Stray Ferret. But staff at the pharmacy told the Stray Ferret they have been “given options” about employment going forward.
Boots pharmacy in Jennyfields to close next yearThe Boots pharmacy inside the Co-op at Jennyfields in Harrogate is set to close next March.
The move comes after Walgreens Boots Alliance, its US-based parent company, announced the closure of 300 UK stores in an earnings call in June.
In a separate report, Boots said it will “consolidate a number of stores” in order to “concentrate its team members where they are needed”.
It added:
“[It will] focus investment more acutely in individual stores with the ambition of consistently delivering an excellent and reliable service in a fresh and up to date environment.”
The report also said the stores affected are “in close proximity” to other Boots sites.
The retailer declined to comment on the Harrogate store closure, however staff at the Jennyfields pharmacy told the Stray Ferret they have been “given options” about employment going forward.
Following the closure, the nearest Boots pharmacies will be in Harrogate town centre, Knaresborough Market Place, the St James’s Retail Park near Knaresborough and at Market Place West in Ripon.
The Co-Op at Jennyfields
Twenty UK stores, including four in Yorkshire, have already closed following the announcement.
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Refurbishment reveals ‘ghost sign’ of former Harrogate library
Refurbishment of a former Chinese takeaway on Leeds Road, Harrogate, has unveiled a “ghost sign” of a tiny library that closed around 50 years ago.
Liberty Library was a subscription library where readers paid a nominal fee to rent books. It’s believed it was there from the 1930s until the early 1970s.
Subscription libraries were popular alternatives to larger public libraries in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Harrogate’s Boots chemist also offered a subscription library service in the town at the time.
Pannal and Harrogate historian, Anne Smith, said she remembers visiting Liberty Library in the early 1960s.
She said the books were not “highfalutin” and catered mainly to the female reader. It also sold toys, sweets, stationery, stamps and newspapers.
Ms Smith said:
“It was very useful. There was a big table the back with all different books on it. The books were tremendous.”
The sign was made by a business called Wilson Signs
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Leeds Road
Liberty Library also sold annuals for children such as School Friend, Dandy, Beano, Knock Out and Film Fun. Children would save up their pocket money throughout the year and come before Christmas to pick up the end-of-year editions.
Ms Smith said the section of Leeds Road looked different in those days. Some of the buildings that are shops today were houses and had gardens where there are now usually parked cars.
Other notable Leeds Road businesses at the time included Paul’s Bakery, Padgett’s greengrocers and Scott’s.
Leeds Road in 1955, with Liberty Library on the left. Photo credit: unknown.
Liberty Library closed in the early 1970s as subscription libraries went out of fashion.
Two people on social media shared their memories of Liberty Library with the Stray Ferret.
Brian Skinner said:
“I remember visiting it and borrowing books before I joined the children’s library in town. It must have been in the late 40s. We also ordered our Christmas annuals, paying for them over a period before Christmas. Happy days.”
John Carr said:
“I remember the Liberty Library from growing up in the area in the 50s & 60s. I used to buy my matchbox cars and other toys from it.”
Mr Carr has a directory of businesses from 1948 that lists Mrs E Worfolk as the proprietress of Liberty Library.
He added:
“I recall an elderly (weren’t they all when we were little?) man who ran it but didn’t know his name.”
The sign was spotted by Ghost Signs, a website and social media account that is dedicated to the fading remains of hand-painted advertising.
Anyone else spotted this find from @speccy2?
Would love to know more about the library, and what the tiny lettering bottom right is, likely a signwriter's signature…#ghostsigns #ghostsign #libertylibrary #harrogate #shopfront https://t.co/9ixNCusoLv
— Ghostsigns (Sam Roberts) (@ghostsigns) March 8, 2022