Haslemere Town Council has approved a £1,000 Green Grant to support the launch of the Haslemere Community Fridge, a new initiative aimed at reducing food waste and supporting the community. The fridge, located at Green and Blue Studios on the Unicorn Trading Estate, has officially opened its doors with great success.

The Community Fridge, spearheaded by the environmental charity Love Haslemere Hate Waste (LHHW), offers free surplus food to anyone, helping to reduce food waste while addressing the rising cost-of-living crisis. Items already donated include boxes of Shreddies, Heavenly Hummus, and bananas, with more arriving daily. Visitors are encouraged to bring their own bags and are invited to make an honesty donation if they can afford to do so, helping to keep the fridge stocked.

The £1,000 grant will fund a glass-fronted freezer to store frozen food donations, with the fridge operating daily from 8am to 8pm.

Cllr Terry Weldon, who backed the project, praised it as “a superb initiative” that addresses the “appalling amount of food waste” while benefiting the entire community.

"This is not another food bank; anyone can benefit from it. We can all contribute and benefit equally," he added. The project is expected to operate indefinitely, providing an ongoing resource for the town.

LHHW is a growing and tenacious grassroots organisation, seeking to drive behavioural change towards more sustainable lifestyles in Haslemere. The Community Fridge is part of LHHW’s efforts to inspire sustainable behaviour in Haslemere, complementing other initiatives like the Repair Café and Library of Things.