New Forest food bank allowed to expand to meet growing demand

A GROWING food bank in Lymington has won permission to relocate to bigger premises on condition its weekend opening is limited to four hours.

New Forest Basics Bank has been allowed by the district council to move from its current base behind the United Reformed Church to a larger, pre-fab facility to be installed off the High Street.

Since launching in 2004, the charity has distributed more than 7,300 food parcels, and wants to expand its operations to meet demand. It will now launch a fundraising campaign for the investment money.

More than 100 people wrote in support of its plans which will put the group on land owned by NFDC behind Our Lady of Mercy and St Joseph’s Church at number 132.

However, the scheme had to overcome concerns from NFDC’s conservation officer who, despite modifications to the design, said its size and bulk within the town’s conservation area were “inappropriate in this historic location”.

An NFDC planning report conceded the design of the single-storey outbuilding was “not ideal” but the levels around the site meant it would not be “particularly prominent”.

The approval said the food bank must stay closed on Sundays and bank holidays, and limit activity to 8.30am-6pm Monday to Friday, and 9am-1pm on Saturdays. A report said this was to maintain control of the site’s use if it ever changed hands.

Trustee Andrew Sutherland, a Conservative member of the town council, told the A&T: “I am delighted with the move. I am very much looking forward to moving into the new premises.

“This will provide much more space and a much better centre for the distribution of food in the Lymington and New Milton areas.”

He offered particular praise for fellow trustee David Da Cuhna for project managing the scheme to this stage. It is hoped the relocation will take place later this year.

As reported in the A&T, the basics bank needs to move out by 2025 from its current home which was described by Cllr Sutherland as “totally inadequate”.

When the application was submitted, he wrote to NFDC: “The New Forest Basics Bank provides a vital service for the less fortunate people and families of the New Forest area, some of whom are experiencing great difficulty at the moment with delays to their Universal Credit payments.

“The new premises will provide good storage and administration space as well as being easily accessible for the people who need to collect their food parcels in person.”

Among the 108 supporters of its relocation was Ashley Infant School head teacher Sarah Dibben who warned that losing the service would “increase pressure on children’s services, health and education”.

New Forest Basics Bank was founded by the Rev John Begbour, from New Milton, and is backed by churches across the area.