A MAJOR change has taken place outside a Stroud supermarket. 

There had been calls for Lidl, which opened its Stroud store in Dudbridge Road in December 2021, to have step-free access to its store from the canal path. 

While the store has been fully accessible from the front since it opened, John Bloxsom, county councillor for Rodborough (Labour) has been calling for there to be step-free access to the supermarket from the canal side, which it now has. 

Stroud News and Journal: There is now step-free access to Lidl store on the canal side

Mr Bloxsom said: "It's great to see a step-free access from the canal towpath to Lidl, which I have been calling for, as have customers and residents.

"It's regrettable that this wasn't included in the original plans, but it is good that it's now happened.

"I'm continuing dialogue to also encourage development of a step-free access from the towpath up onto the opposite side of Dudbridge Road, next to the car dealership.

"This would benefit walkers, cyclists and shoppers and help reduce the numbers of people making hazardous dashes across the dual carriageway"

A Lidl spokesperson said: "We're proud to have become a key part of the Stroud community since opening our doors in 2021, having built strong relationships with our customers.

"While there has always been fully accessible access to the store from the front, we've been listening to feedback from our shoppers who told us they also wanted step free access from the canal.

"In coordination with Stroud Valleys Canal, we're really happy that we've been able to make this happen."