Who We Are?

The Association was set up to protect and conserve the original area covered by The St Margaret's Estate of 1854. Its main remit was to monitor all planning applications and negotiate approval or opposition with the Borough Council, whilst taking the Grounds Trustees' wishes fully into consideration where appropriate.

General Environment Conservation

Trees: The Association monitors the lopping and felling of listed trees as well as those large enough to qualify under conservation guidelines.

Traffic: The ever-increasing impact of traffic on local residents is of great concern to the Association. A major success in this area was the provision of an efficient pedestrian crossing on the A316 at the St Margaret's roundabout. The Association also lobbied the Council (and Transport for London) to replace the worn and damaged pavement from the St Margaret's Roundabout, past Ailsa Road and St Georges Road to the Avenue (including bollards). This has been undertaken and completed recently.

The riverside in our area: The Association attempted to limit the amount of litter marring our local riverside, by sponsoring litter bins in Ranelagh drive. We have also lobbied the Council to give us a say in the types of lighting on the riverside.

Support of other local groups: SMERA support HACAN in their fight against Night Flights.

Examples of recent local concerns: 

Ballet Rambert School: SMERA, supported by a large number of local residents, was involved in a long battle to get the Ballet Rambert school (faced with eviction from the new Octagon development), permission from the Council to buy and move their school into Clifton Lodge and the Violet Needham chapel. Thus conserving two significant local old buildings in danger of complete deterioration.

SMERA is continually helping their member residents in their fight with developers whose lorries are disrupting their streets unnecessarily.