Store airs proposals for a new pharmacy

A spokesman for Sainsbury's said the company had lodged a planning application with North Wiltshire District Council for a pharmacy to be located in the car park of its site on Bath Road for up to a year.

"The application is in its early stages as yet," she said.

"It is going to be temporary, but I can't say what it would be like yet, it's early days. Once we know what the local planning authority think we will be able to give more details."

She said the introduction of a pharmacy was in response to demand from local residents.

"It was something that was required for this area," she said.

Lloyds chemists in New Road and St Luke's Drive could be hit by the opening of the new pharmacy.

A spokesman at Lloydspharmacy said: "The NHS has awarded this contract because they consider it to be desirable, and they will have taken all relevant opinion, including Lloydspharmacy's, into account."

In June, Safeway in Chippenham lodged an application for a mammoth extension, creating alarm among town centre traders.

The out-of-town supermarket in West Cepen Way wants to build a 25,000 sq ft extension to extend its range of goods and services.

The expansion could create up to 100 new jobs.

A spokesman for Safeway, Peter Sitch, said that the store had received no news yet on the progress of the planning application.

At the same time, Sainsbury's announced that it was putting together proposals to improve the Chippenham store.

An application to extend the supermarket was thrown out in 1999.This time around both supermarkets are hopeful of getting permission to expand and add new lines.

Plans for Safeway's include the creation of specialist departments to cover products in areas such as health, beauty and personal care, mother and baby and home entertainment. There are also proposals for a photo shop and a paper shop.

The extension would also allow for more seasonal lines during Easter, Christmas and the summer holidays.