Plans to open Marlborough’s Community Fridge, a partnership project between Marlborough Town Council and Transition Marlborough, are progressing well. The fridge co-ordinators, Clare Harris and Milly Carmichael, are confident that the community fridge will open in late May/Early June to coincide with warmer days and lighter evenings. The fridge will be situated in the Community Room at Cooper’s Corner in the George Lane carpark.
Clare Harris, Assistant Town Clerk, told Marlborough.news, “With projects like this, it is really important to listen to the views of the community, whose views will shape and inform its development. A very short survey has been created, which will literally take 2 minutes to complete. Your input would be very gratefully received.”
The fridge itself was generously donated and set up costs are being met through fund-raising, including a £500 seed-funding grant from the Transition Network and a further £500 awarded by Wiltshire Council’s Area Board.
Waitrose have also recently committed to donate food to the project and have also donated £350. This donation will cover the cost of volunteer refreshments and cleaning products for a very long time.
Renaissance, who manage the retirement apartments on London Road, have donated the cost of the materials to build a ‘pick your own’ herb/veg garden planter, which will sit outside of the fridge room. The organisers are very grateful for all the donations.
Clare Harris said, “A group of willing volunteers have stepped up to help run the fridge and we are engaging with other local food retailers to start building the working relationships needed to supply the fridge with a regular and varied supply of fresh and ambient foods.
A final plea. Do you have an hour or two to spare a week? More volunteers are needed to help man the fridge during opening hours. Please contact charris@marlborough-tc.gov.uk to find out more about what is involved and how you could help. Visit us here for updates.”
Carpenter – Marlborough College
