The Medicine Shop has closed its doors after 18 years on Alderley Edge highstreet because the parking restrictions finally got to them.
Kathryn Plowright said "Parking here is mostly limited to one hour so we had to constantly shut the shop for up to 10 minutes at a time during the day in order to find another space – this is not only bad customer service, as many of our customers had made a special trip, but the whole ethos of what we do is based around healing – and how can we offer our customers the best we have to offer if we are constantly preoccupied and stressed out with parking issues.
"We'd been in the village 18 years and the last 3 years were intolerable. Life is tough enough without having a battle every day. It was absolutely soul destroying."
The Clinic has moved to a consulting suite at Cheadle Royal Business Park, opposite John Lewis, and the Shop has moved online.
Kathryn added "We can provide better customer service and attend to our customer's health needs in a more efficient way. Wendy and Ellen will be answering calls and I personally will be available for anyone to talk to about health problems online or over the phone which I have not been able to do for many years as my office has been in a different location to the Shop & Clinic."
For further information visit the Medicine Shop & Clinic website or call 0161 246 6062.
Comments
Here's what readers have had to say so far. Why not add your thoughts below.
I am more inclined to believe that the growth of availability on the web for alternative medicine has not helped. I'm sad its going but not surprised.
I agree with all the above comment the excuse is pathetic.
On the otherhand if you say that the parking limit of 60mins impacted on clients then we can understand!
Although i would agree there were other reasons for being forced to close down, parking had a major impact on retail shops in the village and my ability to sustain the business. Why do you think it is, that apart from half a dozen shops who have been in the village for over 20 years the rest of the shops come and go like ships in the night!!
For those of you who don’t think parking is an issue in Alderley Edge, or any other town and village in the UK, you need to take a reality check. We now live in a society who want easy access to shops and without having to pay for parking. With the introduction of so many out of town shopping centres who provide free and easy parking facilities, we as a nation have become lazy and our busy and hectic lives make ‘out of town’ shopping an appealing choice. Although there are many of us who still want to use local facilities and walking to the shops or parking a distance is no effort, the younger generation are far less likely to do that.
So, as far as I am concerned, parking in all UK towns and villages is a huge issue and one of the major reasons why our traditional high street has changed so dramatically over the last ten years.
I wish Katherine and The Medicine Shop every success in their new location.