A SERVICE that has delivered hot meals and companionship to some of Waverley’s most isolated older people for more that 50 years is threatened with closure.

Meals on Wheels is currently run by the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) from the Brightwells Gostrey Centre, in Farnham, and delivers 100 hot meals a day, five days a week to the homes of more than 135 clients, as well as a friendly face and a chat.

But citing concerns over the quality of the service’s food, Waverley and Surrey councils are currently undertaking a review of the service’s local authority funding. The RVS has warned should funding be removed, the service may be forced to close.

Rebecca Kennelly, RVS director of operations in the south of England, said: “We’re disappointed to confirm we are potentially having to consider ending our Waverley Meals on Wheels service on September 30, due to the withdrawal of its funding.  

“Under the current contract, the charity delivers 100 meals a day and we will be working with the county council to identify alternative options for the 135 older people who currently receive a meal and a ‘safe and well check’ from our volunteers.”

Waverley’s community overview and scrutiny committee agreed to an in-depth review of Meals on Wheels, in January, to identify whether the council should continue to support the service.

The review’s results are anticipated in September, but a scoping report presented to the council on April 6 revealed a steady decrease in the take-up of the service from 40,248 meals delivered in 2011/12 to 29,775 in 2014/15. The report added: “Consultation highlighted the need to review the service as some residents expressed dissatisfaction with the quality of meals.

“The current service has operated in the same way for some years; Future priorities and how these might be achieved may need to be considered to ensure a meals service meets the future needs of the community.”

Both councils contribute £30,000 annually. But over the past three years Waverley has incurred an additional cost of £11,000 per year to repair the Gostrey Centre’s dilapidated kitchen facilities, taking its total annual investment to £41,000.

A WBC spokesman said: “No decision about how the service is delivered and/or funded has been made by either council.

Continuing to fund the service beyond the next six months remains on the table.”