Frozen meals given cold shoulder

Most pensioners in Ceredigion are sticking with hot food

Pensioners are giving a controversial frozen meals-on-wheels service in Ceredigion the cold shoulder, which a council says is costing it money.

Ceredigion Council decided to break with tradition a year ago and added frozen options to its menu of hot food in an attempt to cut costs.

But it is thought just 21 senior citizens are choosing frozen meals with more than 300 selecting the hot option.

The council said the "low" take-up was costing its social services department.

Plans were to save some of the £170,000 it spends on meals-on-wheels annually by replacing daily fresh meals with frozen food delivered on a weekly or fortnightly basis.

However, these were opposed by Plaid Cymru and a compromise was reached allowing pensioners to choose between frozen and hot meals.

I think the Plaid Cymru stance of opposing the introduction of frozen foods by the council has been completely vindicated Ellen ap Gwynn, Plaid Cymru

"At this stage, the take-up of pre-frozen meals is low," said Parry Davies, director of Ceredigion's social services.

"Although disappointing, that is not surprising to Ceredigion's social services department given the debate that occurred and the fact that the service has only been in place for a few months.

"Had the arrangements proposed been adopted in their original format and implemented by the county council, the forecast savings to Ceredigion's social services budget would have been £120,000.

"Because the proposed arrangements were amended, the current forecast savings for 2008-09 are currently estimated to be in the region of £70,000.

"It must be emphasised, however, that that estimate is based on financial analysis on the first quarter of the 2008-09 financial year."

'Completely vindicated'

Plaid Cymru councillors fought this year's local elections on the meals-on-wheels issue and said the lack of numbers taking up the frozen food option proved it had been right to do so.

Plaid Cymru leader on Ceredigion council, Ellen ap Gwynn, said: "We really pushed it hard and forced the council's cabinet to fall back and have a rethink about introducing frozen foods.

"I think the Plaid Cymru stance of opposing the introduction of frozen foods by the council has been completely vindicated.

"Obviously, the vast majority of people agree with us because they are choosing to eat locally-produced and freshly cooked meals which is what we wanted to continue in the first place."

The council provides about 100,000 meals a year which benefit hundreds of local elderly and vulnerable people.