Community Fridge misuse results in “disappointing, drastic measure”

There’s been a disappointing update on the heart-warming Community Fridge initiative which is now having to be locked with its open days reduced.

Located at the Town Hall, the initiative was launched in February to allow those struggling to make ends meet to help themselves to vital food supplies collected from food outlets in the town by volunteers.

But at this week's monthly full Town Council meeting, Town Clerk Richard Williams revealed that “due to the constant misuse by some individuals”, changes had to be made.

He was answering a question from Cllr Sally Fitzgerald, who operates her business from the Town Hall and asked why there was now a lock on the fridge.

“We have had to review the opening times of the Community Fridge and also to remove some of the days due to constant misuse of some individuals against the fridge, which is disappointing,” said Mr Williams.

“We have had to decide to lock the fridge on certain days and only open on Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays until we can find a solution to address the issues we have been facing.

“It is unacceptable for a member of the public to take a bag for life and fill it up. This is a service for people who are in need and in food poverty. We don’t have the resource to man it.

“Signs are not working. They are taking advantage of the goodwill of the Community Fridge. (It's) Disappointing that we have to take such a drastic measure.”

But Cllr Fitzgerald said this didn’t fit in with the spirit of the initiative and volunteered to keep a closer eye on it herself.

“I don’t think it is community minded putting a lock on it,” she said.

Mr Williams said that the new opening times and lock would remain in place until a time when they can address the problems.