Since The Bell Inn in Iden, just outside Rye, closed its doors in June 2023 the residents have been active in coming together to try and buy the pub and install a tenant to run it.
Two years on and after many discussions, fundraising nights, offers to the owners, grants applied for and disappointments over a lost opportunity of Community Ownership Fund (COF) government funding , the next stage is to object to an application, posted online last week, to Rother District Council by the current Bell owners.
They wish to get permission to change the pub into a three-bed dwelling and sell on so that they can move away from Iden. The Bell is the only public house in Iden and is missed by residents which is why the Save the Bell campaign is still active after more than two years.
The Community Benefit Society (CBS), formed 18 months ago, has lead the acquisition and has now called a meeting in Iden Village Hall on Thursday, September 18 at 6pm for a 6.30pm start to lay out an update of recent negotiations and how residents can object to the change of use.
Martin Chalet, Chair of the CBS, will lead the evening and invite questions. He said: "We hope Iden residents continue to support the cause and will come along on Thursday to get clarity on the part they can play to object by the deadline of October 10."
