Leicester City Council has launched a free home-delivery service for fresh fruit and vegetable shoppers at the city’s retail market.
The two-week sign-up period is in full swing and two new cycle couriers will be hitting Leicester’s streets from next week to provide an environment-friendly delivery option for local residents.
The first initiative of its kind in the UK, the service was born out of the pedestrianisation of the city centre, which made it harder for the elderly and those with mobility problems to reach bus stops from the busy market.
Initially there are 500 spaces available on the scheme, which will operate three days a week and is open to Shopmobility users, over-60s and people with physical disabilities affecting mobility.
But the city council hopes to be in a position to roll the format out to the wider public at Christmas, for a small charge.
Participants are being given reusable cotton shopping bags to put their fresh produce purchases in before handing them in with their address details at a dedicated cycle courier stall on the city’s market.
The idea is the brainchild of Leicester City Council’s task group for regeneration and transport, led by councillor Sarah Russell. She told FPJ: “I am delighted that we can pilot this scheme, ensuring that the fantastic, good-value fruit and veg from the market is something that can be enjoyed by everyone.
“It is a unique scheme with a lot of potential,” she added, “not only helping the more vulnerable members of our communities but also helping to reduce the city’s carbon footprint.
“We have secured funding to run the scheme for two years from the council. We are potentially looking at rolling out a paid-for service on Saturdays, but if we do, we need to keep the charges within reasonable boundaries, as one of the reasons why people want to use the market is because it offers good value.
“Traders are behind the scheme as it ensures that their regular users will be able get their produce home. And we are hoping that in the future it could become self-sustaining.
“I think in the future we are likely to see a wider uptake of cycle couriers for deliveries in general, but my understanding is that what we are doing here in Leicester really is a first for a city market.”
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