Worries about Boots closing its Norwich UEA campus store

Boots have confirmed it is shutting its University of East Anglia (UEA) branch, based in the medical centre near the Bluebell Road entrance to campus, at the end of July in its bid to consolidate shops in close proximity to each other.

The closure will leave roughly 17,000 students having to travel to Dereham Road, Eaton or Longwater if they require minor medical help or assistance.

UEA is home to roughly 17,000 students from around the world (Image: Newsquest)

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The news has come as a blow to the many students who rely on the health and beauty giant’s store.

Nathan Wyatt who is the welfare, community and diversity officer for the UEA student union, said: “We were disappointed with the recent news that Boots is leaving campus.

“Our concern about the closure is the impact it will have on students who live on campus for large parts of the year.

Nathan Wyatt, welfare, community, and diversity officer at the UEA (Image: UEA)

“We are concerned that the closure may create a barrier for students to access health care that could disproportionately impact disabled students.

“The cost of having to go into the city will also add greater pressure to students at a time when a lot of costs are rising.

Boots will be closing the Norwich UEA campus store at the end of July (Image: PA Media)

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“We are going to talk to UEA about this and see what options are available for students to access healthcare going forwards.”

Boots will be shutting a total of 300 shops in the UK that are within a few miles of other branches, but said that the closures will not lead to any redundancies.

A UEA spokeswoman said: “Our students have been informed about the closure of Boots’ pharmacy and made aware of alternative suitable options.”