Hopes raised for revival
A council leader hopes the opening of a Boots pharmacy in Ollerton could signal the beginning of a retail boom that could attract more high street names to the town.
Ollerton and Boughton Town Council has been consulting on potential plans to redevelop the former Courtaulds factory site, off Rufford Avenue, which it owns.
The 0.8-acre site is seen as a key point in the town in maintaining a thriving environment for independent and traditional retailers who face tough competition from supermarkets such as Tesco.
The site has been earmarked for quality retail, leisure and hospitality, as well as some housing.
The development, which would create a link between Forest Road and Rufford Avenue, could include a market area lined with shops, cafés, and toilets.
The town council is likely to enter into a partnership with a developer to implement the plans.
The leader of the town council, Mr Ben Wells, said he hoped the development could attract big high street names to the town, and said Boots coming to Ollerton could be a sign of things to come.
He said: “I am pleased about Boots opening and it is another high profile company investing in Ollerton.
“This could lead to other companies becoming interested. I would like to see Marks and Spencer come to the new development, but we will have to see if that is possible.
“Tesco is often criticised but the fact it is there brings people to the town. Other companies will come because they know Tesco has been a success here.
“The town council will continue to look to support companies like Boots, and hopes other companies will also show an interest.”
The Boots pharmacy on Forest Road, Ollerton, previously an Alliance Pharmacy, was officially opened on Monday by long-term customers, Mr and Mrs Brian Murray of Coddington, who until recently lived in Ollerton.
The new-look pharmacy is one of around 900 stores in the UK to change its name over the next two years after the merger between Alliance UniChem and the Boots Group in July 2006.
A prescription service will still be provided, but product ranges have been extended.
Mr Murray (69) and Mrs Elizabeth Murray (60) cut the ribbon to mark the opening of the rebranded shop.
She said they both used the former pharmacy to pick up prescriptions and were delighted to be opening the shop.
She said Boots coming to the town was a good sign for business in the future, especially following the arrival of other large brands such as Tesco.
