![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/logo-boots-british-health-beauty-850323222.jpg\"){kind=logo}
<\/p>\nAN MP has branded the closure of two Boots stores in his constituency "hugely bad news".<\/p>\n
David Jones, who represents Clwyd West in North Wales, said he was "dismayed" the branches will close in 2024.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
The pharmacy chain is pulling down the shutters on its site in Rhos on Sea in March next year.<\/p>\n
The retailer will then close its shop in Colywn Bay the following month.<\/p>\n
In a statement, MP David Jones branded the closures "hugely bad news for the local community".<\/p>\n
He said: "This is not a case of simple shop closures.<\/p>\n
"Pharmacies play an important role in the delivery of health care, and many people will be extremely worried as to how they will be able to obtain essential medicines."<\/p>\n He added: "It is another body blow for the local retail economy.<\/p>\n "The Colwyn Bay store is an important element of the once-vibrant Station Road shopping centre, which has already seen the closure of several other prominent stores, including WHSmith."<\/p>\n It comes after Boots announced plans to massively consolidate its portfolio of 2,200 UK stores to 1,900.<\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n A number of branches have already closed, including in Flintshire, Wales.<\/p>\n Sites have also shut in Leicester, York, Plymouth and Exeter, while stores in Wigan\u00a0and\u00a0Norwich will close in early 2024.<\/p>\n Residents have been left devastated at the news of the closures.<\/p>\n One, commenting on the closure of their branch in Pemberton, Wigan, said: "Whatever the reason, it\u2019s very bad\u00a0news."<\/p>\n Another, discussing the loss of their local shop in Kirkby in Ashfield, added: "Boots closing these stores is an accident waiting to happen."<\/p>\n But Boots isn't the only retailer to closing stores across the UK.<\/p>\n A number of other chains are struggling as shoppers turn their backs on the high street and opt for online retail instead.<\/p>\n According to The Centre for Retail Research, online shopping accounted for over 26% of the total UK market in 2022.<\/p>\n High inflation has squeezed consumers budgets too.<\/p>\n Combined with rising energy and wage costs for businesses, a number have been forced to close.<\/p>\n In January, Argos announced plans to close all its stores in the Republic of Ireland following a "thorough review" of its business and operations in the country.<\/p>\n A number of retailers have fallen into\u00a0administration in the last two years too, including Wilko,\u00a0M&Co\u00a0and Paperchase.<\/p>\n But it's not all bad news as some retailers have announced plans to open sites in recent months.<\/p>\n KFC revealed to The Sun\u00a0it would open a swathe of new branches across the UK between November this year and early 2024.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.thesun.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/12\/new-look-logo-seen-outside-794185916.jpg\"){kind=logo}
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