A councillor in Exmouth is trying to collate a list of all the local food shops in the area that can take card transactions over the phone.

Councillor Richard Scott, who represents the Exmouth division, is aiming to get together a complete list of shops for which volunteers from the many groups who have sprung up can go and collect food for those unable to leave their homes.

While supermarkets have gotten their act together and have increased deliveries, they are unable to take phone orders, councillor Scott said, which means that not everyone has the ability to get food from them.

As a result, across the parishes of Exmouth, Woodbury and Lympstone, councillor Scott is hoping to get a complete list of every food store that is able to take card payments over the phone and allow volunteers to come in and collect food that has been ordered on behalf of those more vulnerable.

He said that for Woodbury and Lympstone it has proven fairly simple as the village shops have adapted and are taking card payments, but in Exmouth, partly due to the size of the town, it has proven hard to get a complete list.

East Devon District Council has set up a Coronavirus Community Support Hub Hotline to help local residents, communities and organisations access information and support, or volunteer their time and resources to help their local community, and councillor Scott said that in recent days, he has said several calls about which shops can take card payments and where volunteers can go and get food for residents if needed.

He said: "Supermarkets have quickly got their act together and you have to give them a lot of credit as it is like a military operation as to how they are enforcing social distancing, but the unfortunate problem with supermarkets is that they cannot take phone orders.

"They have got their act together in deliveries but there are a still a small number of people who cannot get online or cannot get any delivery orders or are not entitled to the seven day food packages through the community hub.

"So if it helps 50 people that cannot go out then good enough for me and it gives volunteers the information as to where takes card payments and businesses as chance to operate and innovate.

"This is a chance and is important to support out local small shops but a chance for pubs or bakeries, if they have a food offer, or even if just a delivery of beer, as long as they are providing food, it doesn't really matter what it is as long as there is an offer in place and the volunteers can go and get it for them."

He added: "You can't fault the pride I have to represent this division and the people that live in it and how groups have sprung up left, right and centre, and how people are volunteering groups are looking after their neighbours. It is an amazing testament to the people that live in Devon."

Anyone who is either running a business that does allow for card payments for food shops to be taken over the phone, or knows of a business that does, is asked to let councillor Scott know by email on [email protected] or via phone or text on 07849 030595.

The list will soon be put 'everywhere', including parish council websites, East Devon's website, via local MPs, to volunteering groups, and around Facebook, to enable people to know where volunteers can pick up food for the vulnerable from.

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