A much-needed village pharmacy was officially opened last week to the delight of residents who praised it is a "victory for people power".
A new Buckley Pharmacy has moved into the old Barclays Bank premises in The Street, Ashtead, after its owner, Abdool Kureeman, fought a year-long battle to bring a new pharmacy to Ashtead, following the closure of Lloyds Pharmacy, the only chemist in the village, in February last year.
The closure forced many patients, including the large elderly population of the village, to travel to other dispensaries in Craddocks Parade and Barnett Wood Lane - where Mr Kureeman already owns a Buckley Pharmacy.
Mr Kureeman's application to open a new pharmacy in exactly the same spot in The Street was refused by the NHS last June - a decision which outraged residents, councillors and MP Chris Grayling - but a second application by Mr Kureeman, to this time open a pharmacy, with a much expanded range of public health services, in the bank's old premises, was approved in April this year.
Mole Valley councillor Chris Townsend cut the ribbon and formally declared the pharmacy open.
Abdool Kureeman said: "It’s a great feeling now to be out here working and serving the community. Everybody is making us feel very welcome."
Gillian Russell, founder of the Save Ashtead’s Village Environment campaigning group, added: "This is a great victory for people power and common sense.
"We desperately need a pharmacy in the village."
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