About the Malden & Coombe Residents' Association (MCRA)
Our Association's objective is to protect the rights and interests of the Coombe Estate residents. We raise money to cover administrative expenses and the matter of permits through a small annual contribution from residents and institutions on the Estate. The Coombe Estate is unique, perhaps the only private estate in England, to have its "scheduled" roads (please see the yellow roads on the Estate Map) owned by the local council. It comprises of almost 300 residences, three schools, two golf courses, a care home and conferencing facilities for two major businesses. Members are defined in the Articles of Association.
The residents of the Coombe Estate are those households residing on the scheduled roads. Residents pay a Coombe Rate Charge each year, calculated with reference to a frontage formula for their property. This is a compulsory charge paid over and above their regular Council Tax bill. The bill is issued to residents around the same time as the Council Tax invoice.
The fees collected by the Council through the Coombe Rate Charge pays for the employment of five gatekeepers who manage the barriers/access points; the cost of the CCTV; the cost of the electric barriers and all the ground maintenance costs associated with managing and maintaining the scheduled roads (pothole and footpath repairs, road cleaning/sweeping, tree and shrub trimming, grass cutting etc). Please see the information on our Annual Contributions page and information on the High Court Decision 2008.