A PHARMACY has dropped plans to open a temporary unit, because it would have cost too much.

Day Lewis applied to Braintree Council to open a pharmacy in a demountable unit in Owers Road, Witham.

The council was due to approve the scheme at a planning meeting, but the pharmacy pulled out.

Addie Thomas, building project manager at Day Lewis, said things did not stack up financially.

She said: "It was proving extremely difficult to get the unit on time before the contract lapses.

"The contract is due to lapse on April 5 and if we did not have it in by then we wouldn't be able to open.

"There was various concerns from Essex Highways and residents.

"It was impossible to mobilise everything so we have decided to let the contract lapse."

The firm had been awarded a contract to serve the town's growing population.

Residents and police were concerned about security at the site, which would have housed the pharmacy for two years.

Day Lewis had hoped the unit would have robust security measures, but these have proven to be costly.

Witham Town Council supported the application, but Essex Police said CCTV amongst other security measures would be needed.

The project manager added: "We dislike doing this sort of thing but we had no other option, who knows if a main unit would become available for us."

Day Lewis said they would wait for a permanent building to become available and would consider applying for a new contract when this happens.

Braintree Council said in an agenda for the planning committee meeting: "It is considered that the proposal for the temporary pharmacy and associated structures will provide a local service to serve an identified local need.

"The public benefit of the proposal is considered to outweigh the temporary harm to visual amenity in the area and the concerns in respect of neighbouring amenity and security can be adequately mitigated."

The meeting was held on March 28.