SHOPPERS are having to “dodge traffic” trying to get to a new town centre supermarket, it is claimed.

Now there are calls for a footpath to take customers to the £3.6million Marks & Spencer supermarket in Eastleigh.

It comes from councillor Mark Balaam who has criticised the decision to build the food store near Twyford roundabout “without a safe pedestrian route”.

He said several residents complained to him about the lack of a safe footpath and having to dodge traffic every day to buy food.

Now he is calling for a new footpath to be created from the nearby Lidl car park as soon as possible.

He said: “The footpath is urgent before somebody gets hurt trying to cross the car park.

“Although there is the route from Twyford roundabout, pedestrians have to dodge traffic to get across that road too.

“It’s ridiculous.

“I have had residents from all around town letting me know that they find it too daunting to access M&S.

“I didn’t know about the footpath when I was elected in May 2016. It’s not safe at all.”

Mr Balaam, councillor for Eastleigh Central ward and member of the opposition party Independent Liberal Democratic Group, said works are also needed to improve the existing footpath from the nearby train station to the Lidl car park.

“There’s a footpath from the train station but it’s dark and intimidating and it only stops at Lidl so people have to jump to the car park and go to M&S,” he added.

Cllr Balaam said he has already asked town bosses to look into it but he is still waiting for an answer.

An Eastleigh Borough Council spokesperson said: “As the developer of the M&S Food Hall, the borough council delivered the planned and agreed

pedestrian routes as approved in the planning conditions.

“There is a designated safe route taking pedestrians from the station, alongside the rail track, around the Lidl car park, and onto the public footway.

“Money has been agreed for improvements to the walkway from the station to create a better surface, improve sight lines and upgrade lighting, and our colleagues at the county council will be carrying out this work.”

The Daily Echo has asked the authority when the improvement works are expected to start, but they were unable to provide an answer before the paper went to press.