Boots 'rethinking' Barrow store closure after town centre investment

Boots is due to close its branches in Portland Walk and Risedale Road, leaving just its pharmacy at the Alfred Barrow Health Centre.

Barrow's MP Simon Fell has been urging Boots to rethink the decision to shut its Portland Walk branch with major investment into the shopping street forthcoming.

It is hoped that BAE's new careers and learning campus in the former Debenhams department store and adjoining shops will boost footfall.

Barrow Market is also due to undergo a major refurbishment, including a vibrant new food court, following government investment.

Mr Fell said Boots has agreed to look again at the closure with its property agents.

He said: "I spoke to the Boots team before Christmas following the news that the two stores were set for closure.

"I pointed out to them then that given the huge investment in Portland Walk by BAE which will substantially increase footfall and also in the market through the £16 million Levelling Up Fund, the case for retaining and investing in the town centre should very stronger than ever.

"They agreed to get their property agents to look at it again in light of these facts, which was very welcome.

"Personally, I still think it's an uphill battle, but we've made a strong case to them."  

Announcing store closures last year, a Boots spokesman said: "In June, our consolidation process was announced, which will see store closures across the country.

"The scheme will ensure that the shops that do close are no more than two kilometres away from another store, meaning that the communities affected will still be served."

When the nationwide closures were originally announced, Boots clarified that they would not result in any redundancies.

Employees currently contracted to the closing shops will be given the chance to continue working at a different location.

Roughly 300 stores are being closed as part of the 'consolidation process', reducing the number of UK shops from 2,200 to 1,900.