Castlemilk residents have taken their fight for access to fresh, affordable food to the Westminster Parliament.

They secured a Westminister Hall debate, sponsored by local MP Gordon McKee, on the subject of ‘Inequality of access to fresh and nutritious food’.

The community on the south side of Glasgow has been pressing to secure a supermarket for the area for more than six years, which has been described as a ‘food desert’ by local campaigners. Despite promised interventions by the local authority no progress has been made so far.

Leading the debate Mr McKee MP said: "Castlemilk is a proud and resilient community that has achieved many things since its founding in the 1950s. But over the years the singular thing it has failed to achieve is to secure a supermarket to serve the area fresh, affordable and nutritious food. 

"With the nearest supermarket a £20 six mile round trip in a taxi, this for many local people means choosing fresh food or turning the heating on. This is not a situation that can continue."

At the end of the debate, the motion was agreed and the Minister for Food Security and Rural Affairs, Dame Angela Eagle MP agreed to meet with the local MP to discuss issues raised.

The campaign for a supermarket is being led by the Castlemilk Housing and Human Rights Board.

Anna Stuart, chair of the Board, thanked the MP for securing the debate and for acknowledging the right to affordable, accessible nutrition is a human right which should be equally available to people living in Castlemilk.  

Anne said: "We are delighted that our complaints and proposed solutions have been acted upon by politicians but the test of success is finding out just what the Minister can do to ensure a supermarket comes to Castlemilk. The Board look forward to hearing of specific actions to aid our campaign."

 
Watch the Westminster Hall debate on Inequality of access to fresh and nutritious food