Lloydspharmacy parent company Celesio UK told C+D yesterday (November 7) that it is “engaged in an active process” to “try and find an alternative option” for its branch on Malabar Road in Leicester.

These options “include divestment”, said Celesio UK, which added: “This is an ongoing process, therefore it's too early to give any further details.”

Malabar Road pharmacy is one of the 190 “commercially unviable” branches that Celesio UK has earmarked for closure or sale, it confirmed exclusively to C+D.

The multiple would not confirm the location of the other 189 branches.

“Both the employees of the stores and local communities are cared for as a priority,” Celesio UK added.

Local charity St Matthews Big Local said the potential closure of the pharmacy would have a “big impact” on the community, who rely on the advice of the staff for support.

The charity tweeted that its trustees are "disappointed" to hear that the Lloydspharmacy could close, and labelled it a “valuable resource for [a] deprived community”.

The pharmacy's branch manager declined C+D’s invitation to comment for this article.

MP says closure would be "massive loss"

Jonathan Ashworth, MP for Leicester South, told C+D he has already been in contact with the branch.

“This pharmacy – the only one on the St Matthews estate – is in one of the most deprived areas in the city.”

“The pharmacy meets the needs of around 4,000 residents,” he added. “If it closes in January next year, it will be a massive loss to the local community and will have a knock-on effect on local GP services.”

Last week, Celesio UK managing director Cormac Tobin announced his resignation “with immediate effect”.