The Association
The Middleton on Sea Association was formed in 1937 and covers five private road groups: Old Point, Sea Way, the Sea Lane Estate (South Walk, East Close and West Close), Merry End and The Byway.
Sea Lane is part of MOSA too. The road itself is a publicly maintained highway, so Sea Lane properties carry the fixed element of the estate charge without a road element.
Our area runs from the parish boundary in the west to include both sides of Sea Lane, Sea Close and Old Point in the east, both sides of Middleton Road up to and including number 179, and The Byway to the north.
What we own
The roads and verges within the estate belong to the Association, with the exception of Sea Lane, Sea Close and Middleton Road. So do the twittens, the roundabouts, the land drains and the Greensward.
That is an unusual amount of land for a residents’ association to hold, and it comes with real legal and safety obligations as well as the maintenance.
What we do
The bulk of the work is maintaining and repairing the private roads, the roundabouts, the land drains and the twittens, and looking after the Greensward.
Beyond that we monitor coastal erosion and work with the authorities on sea defences, comment on planning applications and local planning policy, and deal with a long tail of smaller things: Neighbourhood Watch, restrictive covenants, notice boards, litter bins and dog bins.
Membership
Under the constitution, any adult who lives here, owns a property here, or has a long connection with Middleton on Sea can join. Applications are considered by the Management Committee.
What you pay, and what it buys
How it is run
The Management Committee is elected at the Annual General Meeting and is a cross-section of residents. Up to eighteen officers, of whom eight form a quorum. The Chair rotates every three years.
Because the Association is unincorporated, it can only own or deal with land through appointed Trustees.
Each road has a Road Representative, who collects and manages the road charges, greets new residents with a welcome pack and is the first point of contact for anything to do with that road.
Specific areas of work sit with sub-committees: planning, infrastructure, coastal, communications and the Greensward.
Finance sits with the Treasurer. For legal matters, the committee takes external legal advice.
Who is paid
Everything except a small number of contracted services is voluntary, including the Chair and every Road Representative.
The Association engages contractors for grounds and garden maintenance on the roundabouts and Greensward, and professionals for legal and audit work. Road and drain repairs are contracted as needed.