Portishead Boots closure questioned by Sir Liam Fox

The Portishead shop is due to close on April 6 this year, however there are no immediate plans to close the Clevedon or Nailsea branches.

Sir Liam met with regional management to discuss the  closure on Friday (March 1).

He called the upcoming closure of the shop "extremely unwelcome" and questioned “why a town with a population of 26,000 could not support an outlet in a prime location in the town?"

Boots' management said that, in the last several years, the performance of the store has declined. 

Home delivery from Boots’ pharmacy team also remains an option for residents.

A spokesperson from Boots added: "Colleagues impacted by the closure were offered alternative roles in other Boots stores.

"Five colleagues have accepted moves to such stores at Nailsea, Clevedon, as well as Bristol Clifton Down and Bristol St Augustine Parade.

"We also had one member of staff resign in January, but we are pleased that five of the six have agreed to stay with Boots.”