Should a publicly owned community space — in the heart of Egerton Park, in the heart of Bexhill — be signed over to an unidentified organisation under a commercial lease, with all details kept fully exempt from the public?

We don’t think so.

This is your community space.
But a decision about its future is being made without you.

 

Updated Change.org Petition Description (Update to Add)
Update: May 2, 2025 – 197 Supporters Strong: Act Now to Pause the Lease Decision for Fairness!

Dear Supporters,

We, Lucy Cooley, Christine Catt, and Mandi Lyons, directors of Come As You Are CIC, are deeply grateful to our 197 incredible supporters for driving our petition, “Let the Community In: Pause the Lease Decision, Protect Public Space in Egerton Park.” 

Your voices have secured a partial victory: following our petition, Rother District Council (RDC) removed the fully exempt status of the lease decision for the Elizabethan Pavilion, set for the Cabinet meeting on May 12, 2025, just 10 days away. With time running out, we urgently need your help to pause this decision to ensure transparency, clarify the Expression of Interest (EOI) process, and allow Cabinet members to fully grasp The Bexhill Nest’s inclusive vision as Applicant B.

The Bexhill Nest will transform the underused pavilion into a free, neuroaffirming hub for neurodivergent children and families, addressing unmet needs in Rother, where over 1,200 children have Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). With sensory-safe spaces, a secure sensory garden, and peer-led support, it offers a welcoming space, as one supporter said, “There are so few places we can go without being judged.” Funded by £525,500 in potential grants, it costs RDC nothing and aligns with the RDC Council Plan 2025-2029’s goals for inclusive, sustainable communities.

We are concerned about procedural inaccuracies:

Transparency Issues: The decision was initially exempt without the required 28-day notice, breaching The Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) Regulations 2012 (Formal Concern, Section 2.1). The status change lacks public explanation.

Incomplete Reporting: The RDC report omits our hub’s vision and 197 supporters, risking misrepresentation to Cabinet (Formal Concern, Section 1.4-1.5).

Unanswered Requests: Our March 26–April 25, 2025, , lease terms, and criteria went unanswered, limiting engagement (Formal Concern, Section 3.1).

On the 5th of April the Day the Rother Devolution Website launched we submitted an official Expression of Interest for  a long term lease or asset transfer of the Outdoor Bowls Pavilion in Bexhill. We also requested for it to be listed and an Asset of Community Value. We need a formal outcome - and time to respond to that - BEFORE a decision is made by cabinet!

Pausing the decision is critical to ensure fairness and let Cabinet see our 197-supporter-backed plan, with partners like Rother Voluntary Action.

With only 10 days left, please act now:

Sign the Petition: Join us at [https://www.change.org/p/let-the-community-in-pause-the-lease-decision-protect-public-space-in-egerton-park

Share Widely: Post with #BexhillNest and #EgertonPark on social media and in Bexhill groups.

Contact RDC: Urge Cabinet via www.rother.gov.uk to pause for transparency.

Stay Connected: Visit www.comeasyouarecic.co.uk for updates.
Your signature can make Egerton Park truly inclusive. Sign and share today!

Sincerely,
Lucy Cooley, Christine Catt, Mandi Lyons
Directors, Come As You Are CIC

Our Initial Petition Info

Egerton Park Outdoor Bowls Pavilion is publicly owned.Rother District Council will decide its future on 12th May — with no public consultation.

The decision is being made through a fully exempt Cabinet report — meaning no one can see the proposals, ask questions, or have their say.

We are Come As You Are CIC - a local Bexhill, community-led organisation, 

Our proposal for The Bexhill Nest Project was submitted alongside an offer for the lease — but it’s being passed over behind closed doors, with no opportunity for discussion, no transparent process, and no scoring matrix used to inform the decision.

Come As You Are CIC and the organisation recommended for the lease are distinctly different — with key differences in: purpose, accessibility, community involvement, local presence, inclusivity, and intended use of the space.
 
What Come As You Are CIC are offering?

A free, inclusive community space — designed by and for local families of children who are neurodivergent, disabled, or have special educational needs, and who can’t access the park as it is.

• A safe, enclosed indoor and outdoor space within the park
• Calm, sensory-considerate environment
• A sensory room
• Accessible toilets
• No booking, referral, or diagnosis required
• Open during weekends and school holidays when other options are limited
• Led by lived experience and responsive to local need

This isn’t a service — it’s a welcoming, community-led space that makes the park accessible for families who are currently excluded.

Come As You Are CIC are asking Rother District Council to:

• Pause the lease decision
• Open the process to public input
• Let the community see what’s being proposed — and why

Sign the petition.

Share the video.

Let the community be heard.

Every name matters.

Every voice helps.

Please add your name if you believe decisions about public spaces should be made with the people they serve — not behind closed doors.

Every signature counts.

And please share this petition widely — with friends, neighbours, and anyone who believes in fairness, inclusion, and the power of community.

Thank you for standing with us and standing up for a vulnerable community. 

Together, we can make sure our voices are heard. 

With huge thanks, 

Lucy Cooley, Christine Catt & Mandi Lyons

Directors of Come As You Are CIC