THE team at the Bridgwater Foodbank is celebrating after landing a £110,000 grant from EDF which will allow them to purchase their premises on Mount Street.

The organisers see the site as the ideal location and have put down a £10,000 deposit on the £150,000 building which is currently owned by Somerset County Council.

Keith Barnard, one of the founders on the Bridgwater Foodbank, said this would be a sound investment, and while they have looked at the possibility of other locations, the consensus is they are best off staying put.

Mr Barnard said: "Our current location perfectly suits our purposes. We are close to the town centre but not too visible - unfortunately there is still a certain stigma attached to using the foodbank and some people may be put off if using us if we had a prominent location on the High Street."

The proposal to purchase the building will allow Bridgwater Foodbank to continue its immediate and increasing support of food parcels to those in crisis, as well as provide a base for an advocacy team to help people with housing, rent arrears, debt benefits and utility issues.

The £110,00 grant came from EDF's Hinkley C Community Impact Mitigation (CIM) fund which is administered by West Somerset Council.

Since work began on Hinkley C, rents in Sedgemoor have risen due to workers looking for accommodation and the roll out on Universal Credit.

A report produced on the proposal for West Somerset Council's meeting on Thursday, May 17, said that with an influx of 5,000 workers, local people, especially the poor, are being priced out of housing markets.

"Local people on minimal wages, zero-hour contracts with little disposable income, are unable to complete with better paid Hinkley C workers from outside the area," the report states.

The Foodbank has seen demand soar by 30 per cent since 2016/17 and now has more than 3,200 clients.

Cllr Mandy Chilcott said: ""This is an very worthwhile cause which supports people in crisis.

"As well as the food parcels, it works closely with partnership organisations so those who need it can get access to other important services that may be able to help them.

"The volunteers have worked hard to put together a solid business plan for the future.

"A long term lease in being put in place so that should the time come when the foodbank is no longer required, it can handed over to another charity to use."

Following the meeting, Mr Barnard said: "We are both relieved and delighted.

"This was so important to us and it was quite an undertaking."

Anyone who would like to find out more about donating money or food, volunteering, or renting out a car parking space at the Mount Street Day Centre should visit bridgwater.foodbank.org.uk.