FOOD bank bosses have been left disappointed after their bid for a new home was snubbed by Tendring Council.

The Harwich and District Food Bank had applied to take over the lease of disused council offices in Waddesdon Road, Dovercourt, but were turned down in favour of an unnamed commercial tenant.

The food bank is currently based at the Salvation Army citadel in George Street, Harwich, and chairman Les Nicoll said he was frustrated at the decision and the length of time it had taken for the council to choose their preferred occupants.

“I would accept the council has to make decisions on financial grounds, but the move was first mooted in January," he said.

“It feels like we have been kept on a string for seven months. I am very angry with the sheer amount of time it has taken.

“We are very, very disappointed we haven’t got it.”

The council’s asset management boss Carlo Guglielmi said the decision was purely commercial and they would support the food bank in their bid to find a new home.

He said: “The decision took as long as it did because there was an election in the middle of the process.

“With regard to the decision the council has to maximise the income from its assets – we are looking at a 200 per cent reduction in grant funding.

“It is a purely commercial decision.

“The council will give the food bank help and support as they look to find new premises in Harwich and Dovercourt.”