ELDERLY residents could face a price hike on their daily food bills after the county council launched a review of the subsidised Meals on Wheels service.
About 1,000 customers across Essex, many vulnerable and isolated in their own homes, currently benefit from the daily delivery of meals by firm Sodexo to their homes.
However, Essex County Council says this represents a significant decline in users of the service and an increase in cost may be the only way to "provide value for money for Essex taxpayers".
Speaking to the Chronicle, council leader David Finch said: "For Meals on Wheels, if you look at the statistical evidence, it was providing 1,500 meals a day in 2009. That's dropped to 1,000 now – people are clearly going to places like Tesco and Iceland, and even with our subsidy they are proving better value for money.
"The consultation is making sure the service is fit for purpose and making sure we get better value for money – we've got to balance our books.
"But we've also got to think that for quite a lot of people it's about the social contact that comes with it."
A hot meal delivered straight to the front door currently costs customers £3.95, with the county council subsidising that cost by 84p, a figure that has only risen once since 2006 when it cost £3.50.
However Derek Adkins, 75, who now lives in a care home in Chelmsford, but who did previously take advantage of the service for six months, believes the price is already too high for what customers receive. "I don't think the meals are worth the money you pay.
"All you get is two small cartons, a small dinner and a sweet – that's all you get and the food is terrible," he said, while tucking into lunch at the Age UK Day Centre in Cottage Place, Chelmsford.
"I have been told there are people who have them that just throw them in the bin. I would much rather come here and have a proper dinner."
It is thought that an increase in the number of these lunch clubs providing a sociable and warm environment in which pensioners can eat together is one of the reasons behind a decline in people opting for Meals on Wheels.
But Freda Mountain, a volunteer at the club which caters for up to 60 people each lunchtime, believes there is still a need for an affordable option for those unable to get out and about.
"I do feel for those people because they look forward to a hot meal each day. It's so important they have a meal each day with the correct vitamins," the city councillor said.
"When they have the meals delivered to their home it also ensures they are safe and OK.
"They can build up a nice relationship with them and if anything happens they can call upon them.
"It's sad it comes to this. They have to make savings somewhere but is it the correct way?"
The six-week consultation will run until July 7 and all customers will receive a copy of the consultation in the post, along with support and guidance on how to complete the survey.
