A last-ditch effort is being made to bring a new pharmacy to Witham.

Plans to set up a promised pharmacy serving the new Maltings Lane estate were blocked by the NHS in December following complaints from would-be rivals.

Lloyds, Boots and Borno Chemists all objected to the application by Day Lewis PLC to open a pharmacy in Gershwin Boulevard.

Now an appeal has been lodged and Witham Town Council is hoping to overturn the decision.

Clerk Mark Squire wrote to the family services appeal unit and NHS England: “The negative comments which have been made are clearly intended to protect commercial interests and fail to take the needs of Witham residents on the Maltings Lane estate into account."

See this week's Witham Times for the full story.