After a battle lasting nearly three years‎, Malmesbury’s Waitrose steps have finally been repaired and reopened.

Shoppers have been left frustrated after a dispute erupted over access to the supermarket back in October 2017.

The steps, near the Silk Mills and which link Malmesbury town centre with the out-of-town Waitrose, closed after they failed a safety inspection test.

The access, which developers Simons Group agreed to install when the supermarket was built in 2014, was closed when inspectors discovered bolts securing the structure to the ground were missing.

Malmesbury’s Wiltshire Councillor Gavin Grant said: “These steps were put in to honour a promise made by Waitrose to support our high street.

“Unfortunately, they were not built to the right standard and failed their safety check. So they had to be closed in autumn 2017.

“The company should have immediately repaired and brought them up to standard. Instead they tried to get the taxpayers of Malmesbury to take on most of those costs.

“After frustrating meetings with Waitrose and Malmesbury Town Council where little progress was made, we escalated‎ the breaking of this promise to the top of the John Lewis Group, who own Waitrose.

“They soon realised the cost of removing the steps and making good the land was as going to be as much as repairing them and keeping their word to Malmesbury.

“I’m very pleased they saw sense and that the steps have reopened.”

Malmesbury town councillor Julie Exton, who retired as Malmesbury mayor earlier this year due to underlying health conditions, has been credited for putting in a huge effort to move things forward, alongside Malmesbury St Paul’s Without town councillor Roger Budgen.

Mayor Campbell Ritchie added: “We are very pleased the steps have been repaired and re-opened.

“They form an important link between the store and Malmesbury High Street and were integral to the original planning application.

“It has taken a long time and we have had to be persistent, but it is good news all those involved have reached a solution with the steps back in operation and that Waitrose is assuring their long term future.”

After a battle lasting nearly three years‎, Malmesbury’s Waitrose steps have been repaired and reopened.

Shoppers have been left frustrated after a dispute erupted over access to the supermarket back in October 2017.

The steps, near the Silk Mills and which link Malmesbury town centre with the out-of-town Waitrose, closed after they failed a safety inspection test.

The access, which developers Simons Group agreed to install when the supermarket was built in 2014, was closed when inspectors discovered bolts securing the structure to the ground were missing.

Malmesbury's Wiltshire Councillor Gavin Grant said: "These steps were put in to honour a promise made by Waitrose to support our high street.

"Unfortunately, they were not built to the right standard and failed their safety check. So they had to be closed in autumn 2017.

“The company should have immediately repaired and brought them up to standard. Instead they tried to get the taxpayers of Malmesbury to take on most of those costs.

“After frustrating meetings with Waitrose and Malmesbury Town Council where little progress was made, we escalated‎ the breaking of this promise to the top of the John Lewis Group, who own Waitrose.

“They soon realised the cost of removing the steps and making good the land was as going to be much as repairing them and keeping their word to Malmesbury.

“I'm very pleased they saw sense and that the steps have reopened."

Malmesbury Town Cllr Julie Exton, who retired as Malmesbury mayor earlier this year due to underlying health conditions, has been credited for putting in a huge effort to move things forward, alongside Malmesbury St Paul's Without town councillor Roger Budgen.

Mayor Campbell Ritchie added: "We are very pleased the steps have been repaired and re-opened.

"They form an important link between the store and Malmesbury High Street and were integral to the original planning application.

"It has taken a long time and we have had to be persistent, but it is good news all those involved have reached a solution with the steps back in operation and that Waitrose is assuring their long term future.