Hospital shop takeover bid branded 'ridiculous'

Wed, 24 Aug 2016

"It's not just about selling sweets" - that's the message from the company which operates the retail units at Noble's Hospital.

Wessex Retail has branded the Department of Health and Social Care's decision to takeover the newsagent and gift shop in November "absolutely ridiculous".

Since 2003 it says it's never received or signed a formal contract or lease despite paying its 'tendered rent' - the company was told it was unsuccessful in bidding for the tender in the last run.

Managing director Adrian Christian says the rental price the department was requesting doesn't add up because the shops don't have the capacity to generate enough turnover: