AS has been reported the Devizes Food Bank urgently needs to find a new home. 
Last week’s article in this paper indicates that the request to use some of the empty space at Devizes Hospital has disappeared into the NHS bureaucracy. 
I understand that an approach was first made to the NHS before Christmas. 
The Government, the NHS and the local authorities claim to want to facilitate care in the community as policy. The food bank does this by providing an important lifeline to needy people who are struggling to feed their families and it provides job volunteering opportunities and a fulfilling role for young adults with disabilities who cannot find other work in Devizes.
The hospital is a publicly-funded asset, has unused space and is not likely to be developed for some time. As the food bank only operates during the working day and the public do not go to the food bank as the food boxes are transported for distribution, there is no security issue that cannot be dealt with. 
The food bank volunteers keep the food bank clean and secure. There would be negligible cost to the NHS to provide this facility.
I would appeal to Claire Perry and Wiltshire Council to help secure what would be a good use of an underused public asset.
JOHN GACA
Great Western Close 
Devizes