Volunteers support Leighton Buzzard market trader in supplying residents with fresh food during lockdown

With supermarkets unable to cope with the demand for online deliveries, a regular stallholder has set up a veg box delivery scheme with the help of a councillor and a local businessman.

Disappointed by the town council’s decision to force food stalls to close at Leighton Buzzard Market in the midst of the epidemic, Darren Eastgate and his partner Ashley Patterson were determined to still serve the community’s needs.

Town and Central Beds Councillor Victoria Harvey is supporting them (in a voluntary capacity) by coordinating the orders.

James Morris, who runs Safe and Healthy Homes in Vandyke Road, has also donated his vans and drivers for free to do the deliveries.

Last week 38 orders were delivered around Leighton Buzzard and the week before there were 28 deliveries.

This has helped those who are self isolating and also enabled other residents to stay at home and avoid a trip to the shops.

The regular veg box costs £12 and and includes some extras. The full price list is obtainable from [email protected].

Orders have to be in by Mondays at 1pm to Cllr Harvey and are then forwarded to Ashley who checks the availability. Cllr Harvey then emails the customers with the price and payment details, payment is on Wednesday and the deliveries are on Thursday morning.

Cllr Harvey said: “I have had such appreciative comments from residents who have received the boxes. I am so grateful to Darren and Ashley for the huge job of organising of the orders and to James Morris who has donated his vans and drivers to deliver the veg boxes around Leighton Buzzard. Heath and Reach WI have been helping publicise this.

“The aim is to practically support the government’s and council’s objectives to help those who are isolating and to help others stay at home while getting good quality fresh food from local suppliers.”

She added: “I am starting to work on bread deliveries from the bread stall in the market and will be helping Morgan Pell from the farmers market with deliveries of beef and lamb and plants from Turners Nurseries outside Pymans when they are ready.

“Please contact me on [email protected] or call 07815 817 108 if you would like veg boxes, produce from the farmers market especially Morgan Pell, or the bread stall, or other market stalls.”

Local shops and businesses including Nature’s Harvest, Strattons, Yirells, Waterdene, Wiltshire Farm Foods, Selections and Lobbi Crafts are doing deliveries. Selections, Yirells and Oliver Adams are open for shopping as are Pecks Farm and Nobbys Farm. Clipstone Dairies has a vending machine for milk.

Have you got a good news story of the community helping each other during the crisis? Email [email protected]