Calls for new supermarket to replace closed-down surgery
ST ANN’S RESIDENTS SAY EVERYONE WAS ‘GUTTED’ WHEN THEIR NEAREST ALDI SHUT
PEOPLE in St Ann’s have spoken out about what they’d like to see replace a former doctor’s surgery on Wells Road.
The Valley House surgery hasn’t been open for a number of years and is on the market for £695,000.
Many people have said that they’d like to see a supermarket reopening in the area.
Currently, there is just a Heron Foods store in the area after the Aldi supermarket, in Huntingdon Street, closed last year.
Now, people have to travel to the Aldi on Woodborough Road or go into the city centre to shop.
Unemployed Angela Reynolds, 56, said: “I hope it’s something the community can use. That GP has been closed for ages. It would be nice to see a shop.
“There’s a cafe and a takeaway just next door to the GP, so a new shop could bring them business.
“In an area where everyone’s so friendly and they just want to sit down, have a catch-up, socialise, not much else would do well I don’t think.”
John Watson, 77, is originally from London, but has lived in St Ann’s for around 20 years.
He said: “I think it [the old practice] could be houses. Youngsters are always needing somewhere, people will always need houses.”
He isn’t too bothered about a pub not being in the area.
He added: “Nobody drinks nowadays. With shops, they’re all closing down now and going to retail parks instead.”
Katie Bates, 31, sales assistant from St Ann’s, said: “I think most people around here would agree that we need a shop.
“Everyone I know was gutted when the old Aldi closed down and Heron is good and sells most things, but it would still be nice to have a branded shop – other areas have at least one so why not St Ann’s?”
Receptionist Claire Holden, 45, and from St Ann’s, said: “We need a supermarket. A supermarket that’s bigger than Heron where you can just browse for a while and do your shopping.
“I don’t think it’s fair that we don’t have a major supermarket here, but it [the doctor’s surgery] probably wouldn’t be big enough for that anyway, it’s a shame.
“I either go to to town or the Woodborough Road Aldi to do my shopping. Sometimes I get on the bus or drive to the Lidl in Sherwood.”
Diane Giliespie, owner of florist Scentiment and Munch ‘n’ Bunch cafe, which share the same shop in Wells Road, called for a new pub.
She said: “Whatever it is has to be an improvement. I’d like to see a family pub for locals. It might not be good for me and my business, but in terms of what people need around here, I think a pub is the answer.”