Win for MP as Sainsbury’s backs down over plans to stop delivering to several shielding customers in the South Lakes

South Lakes MP Tim Farron has welcomed the news that Sainsbury's will no longer go ahead with plans not to deliver to several customers in the South Lakes who have been shielding during the crisis.

Last week, Tim was contacted by concerned residents in Natland, Heversham, Prizet and Crosthwaite after they were told by Sainsbury's that they would no longer be able to deliver food shopping to them because of access issues, despite already receiving several deliveries during lockdown.

However, after Tim made representations on their behalf, Sainsbury's wrote to Tim to say that after discussing the issue internally and with the local council, they will now resume deliveries to these addresses.

In an email to Tim, a representative from Sainsbury's Public Affairs team said: "Accordingly, we have restored any of our affected customers' online accounts and reinstated all outstanding orders. Furthermore, all these customers have been added to our priority list for deliveries. This means that they will be able to view and book delivery slots four days before they become available to our other customers.

"We have contacted all of our customers who have been affected to update them on these changes and apologise. We have also offered them compensation for any inconvenience this may have caused."

Tim said: "I'm really glad that common sense has prevailed and that Sainsbury's have reversed their decision not to deliver to numerous people who have been shielding.

"The original decision caused a lot of unnecessary stress and anxiety for people who were already not in a great place and so I'm delighted that my office were able to get Sainsbury's to change their mind."