MEALS-on-wheels are to be delivered by Women's Royal Voluntary Service drivers from next April, after Harlow Council failed in its bid to retain the contract.

In September, councils across the county were invited by Essex County Council to tender for the contract.

In Essex, Tendring District Council which covers the Clacton area was the only district council that was successful in retaining its contract.

Harlow Council's assistant leader Derek Fenny said: "The county council set new criteria which we could not meet without putting up costs considerably. We know the current meals-on-wheels service is much loved by the people who use it.

"Some of the things we were being asked to provide, such as liveried vans and uniformed staff, are just not the kind of things which matter to service users, but these requirements priced us out of the market.

"In fact all that the county council has done is to bring other places up to Harlow standards."

He added: "From next April the service will now be provided by the charity WRVS. We're confident they will do their best to provide a good service and the council will do everything it can to support them in this."

The county council, which undertook the tendering process, said the meals would be of high nutritional value and there would be good portion sizes. The meals will be provided by Apetito.

November 27, 2001 13:04