Hundreds sign petition against supermarket fence

The petition against the fence between Aldi supermarket in Oswestry and the Caxton surgery and pharmacy has been signed by around 500 people.

John Gentle, superintendent pharmacist at The Pharmacy @ Caxton, said it is no surprise there have been hundreds of signatures as many of his patients have complained about the situation.

He said: “I am very pleased the patient group wanted to begin this petition and I am pleased we have been able to carry it in our pharmacy and help to collect signatures.

“People will come in to collect a prescription and talk to you about how they have been affected by it.

“It means elderly patients and mothers with pushchairs are being made to walk around the busy junction, dicing with death as cars go through three entrances.

“I am concerned about our patients, they are worried and I don’t think this should be something they have to worry about.

“I am not surprised at all by how many signatures this petition has collected, young mothers, elderly people and all in between have signed it - people are just perturb about this and wonder why on earth it is necessary.”

The fence was put up on September 24 to block the shortcut between the two buildings in Oswald Road and Beatrice Street.

It means pedestrians who want to visit both sites will now have to walk an extra 200 yards, cross two busy driveways and walk through the supermarket car park.

It was launched by the Caxton Patient Group on October 11 and is available to be signed until it will be handed to supermarket bosses in the New Year.

James Bradbury, manager of Caxton Surgery, added: “We heard a lot of patients talking about how this fence had affected them and I share their concerns.

“Our patient group sprung into action on behalf of all our patients and I hope the vast number of signatures we have will compel the supermarket to reverse this decision.”

No one from Aldi was available to comment.