A COMPANY is proposing to open a new pharmacy in St Austell. Banns Pharmacy, which owns five chemist shops in Cornwall, wants to provide a pharmacy in the Carclaze area.

St Austell town councillors are supporting the idea.

Banns director Sarbjit Singh wrote to the town council seeking its approval, saying: “We have been made aware by the residents of St Austell repeatedly that there is a big need for more pharmacies in the town.

“Recently, one of the Boots pharmacies has closed as well, which makes the situation worse.

“We own five pharmacies, in Bugle, St Dennis, St Stephen, Roche and St Day. Patients at the moment are forced to travel to the pharmacies outside the town, to the village pharmacies, to get their medicines as the pharmacies in the town simply can’t meet the demand.

“There are always queues in the existing pharmacies due to the substantial workload caused by an increase in the number of patients and the Boots closure.

“To fill the gap and to meet the demands of a growing population, we are proposing to open a new pharmacy in the town, preferably towards the Carclaze side – there is no pharmacy on this side of St Austell – to space out from the other pharmacies in the town. People from this side of the town have always had to go to central town pharmacies or travel outside the town to obtain their medicines.

“This new pharmacy initiative would enable people to walk to the pharmacy and get their medicines, flu and covid jabs, and over-the-counter medicines, and valuable pharmacist advice.

“We already have overwhelming support from residents in St Austell. We want to request that you extend your support.”

Councillors were told Treverbyn Parish Council has already shown its backing for the idea.

The town councillors discussed the shortage of pharmacies and the need for local provision and agreed a letter of support for the creation of a pharmacy in the Carclaze area should be produced.