Sainsbury's in Dursley opens its doors to excited shoppers (From Gazette Series)

Sainsbury's in Dursley opens its doors to excited shoppers

10:59am Wednesday 17th March 2010 in

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SHOPPERS poured through the doors of their long-awaited supermarket at 9am on the dot today.

Sainsbury’s in Dursley opened its doors to excited customers who have waited two years to see the store complete.

"It’s absolutely gorgeous," said Cam resident Mike Isgar, who already had his basket half-filled by 9.10am.

Penelope Phelps, of Dursley, said: "The store looks really nice. I usually shop in Sainsbury’s in Stroud so this is now very convenient for me. It is much bigger inside than I thought it would be."

Mrs Phelps said she was worried that the store would take business away from local traders.

"We have a good butchers and bakers in the town and I will continue to use them as well as Sainsburys, I hope other people will do the same."

Work on the store caused traffic chaos but shoppers yesterday had forgotten all about it.

Manager of the Dursley branch of Boots, Carolyn Halford, said she was optimistic that the store would improve the town.

"I am looking at things positively. The town has been very quiet recently and I think Sainsbury’s can only bring more people to the town. They have a lot of staff that will hopefully come across the road in their lunch break to shop in the high street. "In a community this size you need to have a supermarket."

Store manager Nick Langridge said: "I think we are going to draw people to the town and people will come between the store and the other shops.

"We are delighted with how the launch has gone, we couldn’t be happier it has gone really well."

For full report and your reaction to the supermarket see tomorrow's Gazette.