'Delivery service will continue' (From Witney Gazette)

'Delivery service will continue'

9:00am Wednesday 13th September 2006 in Witney By Phil Vinter

OXFORDSHIRE County Council has assured hundreds of housebound residents dependent on getting their shopping delivered that the service will continue.

About 250 people have been using the Midcounties Co-operative Store to Door service, contracted by Oxfordshire County Council, since it was established two years ago.

However, delivery workers for the company recently informed customers that as of the end of September, Mid Counties Co-operative would no longer be providing the service.

The news has worried users such as Joyce White, 88, and her husband Ron, 92, from Hensington Road, Woodstock, who have been getting their food and other household goods delivered from the Co-op store in Carterton since deteriorating sight and other ailments meant Mr White was unable to use a car in 2004.

Using a catalogue, and for a delivery fee of £5.50, they could order their goods over the phone. Mrs White said they ordered on average £40 worth of goods every week.

Mrs White said: "I just don't know what we will do when the service stops. It is a great worry. It has meant so much to me. I don't know why the Co-op has pulled out. I have not got the Internet, so I won't be able to order things in that way.

"We would like to reassure readers that their shopping service will continue after the contract with the Co-op ends, on September 30. We expect to be able to release the name of the new provider before the end of September."

Oxfordshire County Council Home Support Service manager, Andrew Colling

"The Government talks about wanting elderly people to stay at home in the community for as long as possible. And that's what we want to do."

The Co-op said the decision not to renew its contract with the county council was based on purely financial reasons.

Midcounties Co-operative spokesman, Adrian Barradell, said: "The society can confirm that it will no longer deliver the Oxfordshire Store to Door home shopping service, a service that was delivered for Oxfordshire County Council.

"At the beginning of October, the existing contract will end, and the Society will not be tendering for the new contract. This decision has been taken due to unsustainable mounting costs in relation to the service given.

"Our involvement was due to end at the beginning of September, but we were asked to extend the contract for four weeks by the council, whilst they find an alternative supplier, which we were happy to do."

Oxfordshire County Council said it could assure customers that the shopping service will continue after the contract with the Co-op ends.

Oxfordshire County Council Home Support Service manager, Andrew Colling, said: "We would like to reassure readers that their shopping service will continue after the contract with the Co-op ends, on September 30. We expect to be able to release the name of the new provider before the end of September. A letter will be going out shortly to the about 250 people who receive the service, explaining the change."