Hundreds of local residents have signed the petition after becoming aware that the pharmacy in Catterick, North Yorkshire, would close in August this year.

The closure is a “drastic change” to local pharmacy provision for residents who rely on the longer opening hours and accessible parking of the store, the petition said.

Read more: UPDATED: Tesco reveals proposals to close eight in-store pharmacies

“If Tesco pharmacy closes in August 2023, it will mean that anyone wanting to access a prescription before 9.00 or after 17.00 will have to travel to Northallerton or Darlington,” it stated.

“As well as the opening hours, there is also convenience and physical accessibility. Tesco is much more user friendly in terms of parking – [it] caterers for blue badge and child and parent parking,” it added.

Insufficient customer demand

Tesco confirmed to C+D that the pharmacy at the Catterick Garrison store is expected to shut down in August – one of eight recently earmarked for closure by the supermarket chain.

A spokesperson said the pharmacy was committed to being open 100 hours a week as part of its licence but there was insufficient customer demand in the area, making it unsustainable.

Read more: Patient group: Over-60s ‘overwhelmingly’ prefer indies to supermarket pharmacies