FOOD that would otherwise be wasted will be offered to residents for free as part of a new ‘community fridge’ scheme.

Councillors in Blackbird Leys are using part of their ward budgets to buy a new fridge for the estate so people can pick up surplus food.

Under the planned scheme perishable items, such as vegetables and dairy products that are collected by Oxford Food Bank from supermarkets and other food suppliers, will be regularly deposited in the fridge to be used by anyone who needs them.

Linda Smith, who represents the area on Oxford City Council, said Blackbird Leys Community Centre has agreed to host the fridge in a prominent location and it will be installed as soon as details are finalised.

It was inspired by similar schemes in the Barton Neighbourhood Centre, Botley and Rose Hill.

Oxford Food Bank collects the surplus food once it can no longer be sold, but cannot include it in its emergency food parcels because of the short life span of the goods.

If no one takes the food from the fridge before it goes off, it will then be thrown away.

Ms Smith said the main motivation for the scheme was to save food from being wasted but it would ‘be a bonus’ if it feeds people who are in need.

She said: “I saw the community fridge in Barton and thought it was a good idea and one that we could replicate in Blackbird Leys.

“Anyone will be very welcome to come in and take something out whenever the community centre is open.

“Our emphasis is on being environmentally friendly and we certainly do not want any stigma attached to it but if it it helps people who are finding it hard to pay for groceries then that’s even better.

“I’m sure it will be welcomed by a lot of people for many different reasons.”

The project is also being supported by councillors Sian Taylor and Rae Humberstone.

It comes after research conducted last year by the Student Consultancy on behalf of Good Food Oxford identified a ‘potential lack of food assistance’ in the Leys.

Concerns were raised that the introduction of the universal credit benefit system would see families ‘dip into food poverty’ because of delays to payments.

A community fridge was recommended as a ‘short term solution’ to stop people going hungry.