1,000 signatures reached
To: Chelmsford City Council
Let The Children Play
We would like Chelmsford City Council to listen to the local community and allow us some flexibility. We are asking them to either reconsider their decision or at least allow us to stay for the summer. As there are no immediate plans for the site, we would like to stay until September to enable us to raise the funds to move. As it currently stands, if we don't raise the money, we will face closure.
Why is this important?
Natural Foundations is a not for profit organisation giving families a unique place to play imaginately together in all weathers. Come rain or shine, from mud stomping to sand castle building we open! We welcome families from all over Essex and beyond and are accessible to most at £4 for the day-we never turn a family away.
Unfortunately Chelmsford City Council do not see the same benefits for children as our parents do and completely out of the blue they have given us 12 weeks notice to leave the land with no offer of other land or possible extension.
Despite the outrage from the 8,000 families who visit us, the council have refused to give us any flexibility.
This doesn't give us enough time to find another site and this doesn't give us enough time to raise the funds we need to move. We need the summer.
Publicly the council have said we have until the end of May, yet our notice states the 10th. Publicly, they have also stated they will give us every bit of help they can, yet this is not happening.
We ask the council to be more clear with the public and to give us some flexibility and allow us to stay longer.
Please help us by signing this petition to ask the council to either rethink the notice or at least give us more time before we have to leave.
Here are some comments from the families who visit us:
'So disgusted by Chelmsford council. Natural foundations has been such a big part of my son's little life. There is no sense to this. The ideas hub in town was priced out of their premises and now another invaluable place for families is under threat. Makes me so sad.'
'If we can do anything to help, please let us know. Us mums are powerful and passionate people, especially where our children are concerned'
'Me and my boys love this place. I always feel so lucky when we go that we have this wonderful resource on our doorstep. It’s so much nicer and more educational than the soft play indoors.'
'I love taking my son here, yet again the council pulls the plug on something that's non profit and great for children's development. I thought they were meant to be supporting children being outside and doing outside activities?'
'I am really, really angry to hear this. I love coming to Sandford mill for your natural foundations. It's educational and a beautiful natural environment for the children to learn and develop their skills with facilities for parking and toilets aswell as plenty of land for picnics. This is just ridiculous everything nice seems to be moved or taken away this is one of the best assets which doesn't cost a fortune in Chelmsford for children.'
'This is really sad. Natural Foundations is absolutely fantastic - the children simply love it as do us parents so I'm keeping everything crossed that you find somewhere suitable - good luck'
'Would be absolutely devastated if we lost Natural Foundations! What you’ve created is just magical! xx'
'You are amazing - we moved home to London and still try to get to you as often as we can. Really hope this situation is either resolved or that you find somewhere even better'
'You make so many children so happy and what you do is wonderful. I cannot believe the council have done this it’s outrageous'
