WITH alternatives being put in place for the vulnerable to keep getting their hot meals, not everyone is confident the new arrangement is sufficient to cater for demand.

With the council recently spending £600,000 on the much-anticipated Three Shells Lagoon, some have argued the money would be better spent on services including hot meals for the most vulnerable.

It comes after the Echo reported on Wednesday that as the Royal Voluntary Service contract comes to an end on Sunday.

The council said a host of alternative options had been found to supply meals. A spokesman said: “The available options for meals are wide and very varied - from supermarket options to specialist home-made meal providers whose reputation is formed on the basis of individual satisfaction.

“The council believe that it is essential for the residents and their families to make the right and informed choice for themselves.”

Retired nurse, former Southend mayor and councillor, Nora Goodman, thinks the change could leave the vulnerable worse off and she has expressed her concern.

She said: “It is all down to money and the council asking - can we afford it? It is such an essential service, I would think it was a priority for the council. I certainly hope so.

“Having been a councillor, I am quite confident how they are balancing their books.

“I always knew about income and expenditure - and I know how much money gets spent on non-essentials, it doesn’t make sense.

Mrs Goodman, who voluntarily served meals as part of Meals on Wheels for 11 years, said those receiving meals deserved better.

She said: “I used to serve meals and I know how much it meant to recipients to see a friendly face when we brought their meal. Now, I fear someone will just come in, plonk the meal down and go, sometimes not even serving it up.

“It is vitally important the new people delivering the meals are looking at the person and the house for signs of any small changes that can be reported to social services if necessary. “

The council have said that new arrangements had been made for almost all of the users, but they still have two or three that needed to be finalised.