HUNDREDS of pensioners across Essex could be left without hot meals, it has been warned.

It comes after County Hall bosses voted to close the Colchester depot, run by meals on wheels company Sodexo.

The company says it is confident it will still be able to provide meals to about 90 per cent of the people who use it by delivering from the remaining two depots in Basildon and Enfield.

But Essex County Council has admitted it will have to find another way to get meals to 120 people in 18 key areas, including West Mersea, St Osyth, Frinton, Walton, Clacton, Harwich, Earls Colne, Sible Hedingham and Halstead.

One of the options is to pay a separate provider to deliver frozen meals in those areas and get other home care workers to visit people in their homes to heat the meal.

There are also tentative plans to work with lunch and casserole clubs to help prepare meals for the most vulnerable in society.

The closure will mean the county council would save £278,000 a year on the cost of the contract, but the decision has been criticised by Labour opposition councillors.

Julie Young, who leads the Labour group at County Hall, said 60 per cent of people who receive meals on wheels in Essex are aged over 85 and two-thirds have no other care packages in place. She added: “We are talking about the most vulnerable in our society here.

“When you look at the places it will impact in Clacton, Frinton and Walton, these are places where a higher percentage of older people are and the service is needed.”

But council bosses have claimed the service will actually be improved as a result of the decision and the 120 users will be “able to choose their meal option from a greater range of sources”.

In a statement, they said each person will be consulted on a oneto- one basis and “offered a variety of meal options. By involving groups with residents both at home and in their neighbourhood, as well as looking after their nutritional needs, they will also be able to identify those at risk of social isolation and help involve them in existing strong communities.”

David Finch, Essex County Council leader, added: “This is all about improving the service people currently get by offering a greater choice and variety of meals, either in their home or within the community.

“We will continue to provide meals on wheels to everyone who needs them.

“The best thing about this new approach is that we will work with communities and volunteers to deliver meals that are tailored to each individual needs.”

The existing agreement with Sodexo expires on September 30.

The Colchester depot will close from October 1.

Councillors' 3 options

CABINET members had three choices when they met at County Hall.

The first option was to allow the current contract to expire and move all meals on wheels users on to another service.

The Colchester depot closure was the second and preferred, option.

A third choice was to agree a one-year contract with Sodexo to keep the Colchester depot open before finding an alternative in 2016.

The decision had to be made because Sodexo said it could not continue to run the service at the current cost of £4.79, plus VAT.

Users pay £4.20 for each meal and County Hall pays the remaining 59p.

The average private market price in Essex is £6.17 per meal.

At the moment, every meal is heated in vans on the way to users and arrives ready to eat.