Dunstable Food Bank Seeks New Warehouse to Avert Closure

The Dunstable charity, which annually supplies provisions to 6,000 individuals, is appealing to local planners for assistance in securing a new warehouse. The food bank currently operates from premises on High Street, a former Argos store, where it relocated with support from Sainsbury’s and the Community Spaces project; however, its lease for this location is set to expire in March. Michele McCalla, the operations manager, stated that without a warehouse to support its four distribution centres, the organization, which has been active for over a decade, would “have to scale right back” and “might even have to shut.” Central Bedfordshire Council responded by saying it “values the contribution the food bank makes” and “will be contacting them further to discuss options.” Seven months ago, the food bank relocated from Leighton Buzzard. Ms McCalla noted the presence of visible buildings “which we know are closed and facilities that have been moved, but we do not know what is going on with those buildings.” She further commented, “We know Central Bedfordshire Council have properties that are empty and really and truly it is distressing to see.” The charity had reportedly sent an email to the independent-run authority but was uncertain if they had reached the correct contacts, as they had not received a reply. The council has since confirmed that it received the food bank’s request for help in locating new premises. In the interim, Community Spaces, a company specializing in finding commercial property for charities, community organizations, and start-up businesses, indicated its intention to engage with the landlord to explore a potential extension of the current building’s lease. Should an extension not be possible, the firm pledged to “try our very best” to assist in finding a new location. Ms McCalla clarified that “we are not even asking for a huge warehouse, just a facility where we can store food.” Sainsbury’s informed the BBC that Freshwater Management Limited is the head landlord of the property, with Bampton Property Group Limited serving as its parent company. Esther Omtayo, a food bank operations assistant, characterized the present situation as an “uncertainty that we are not willing to take on.” She expressed hope that “by the end of March,” they would know “they have got a stable home to house the food we have got.” Ms Omtayo emphasized that Central Bedfordshire Council should prioritize aiding food banks, especially as winter approaches, a season where, as she put it, “we keep repeating the phrase, either you eat or you heat.” She concluded by stating, “If families are going hungry it ends up back on their table. It is something that needs to be responded to proactively, and not just to wait until we are shut.”