Hello fellow residents! I’m James Pratt, your local councillor for Crewe St Barnabas. I live right here in the heart of our St Barnabas community, in the West End of Crewe.
I’m proud to represent our area on both Cheshire East Council and Crewe Town Council, working to make sure your voice is heard and local priorities are delivered across Crewe & Nantwich.
From Minshull New Road, to Underwood Lane, West Street to Wheelman Road, Badger Avenue, Frank Webb, Rolls Avenue, Chassagne Square, Kettell to McNeill Avenue and all roads and communities in between – we are all Crewe St Barnabas.
I’m your local councillor – and a fellow resident of our community. I’m working hard to tackle the everyday issues that matter, including potholes, litter, fly-tipping, parking problems, street lighting and anti-social behaviour.
If there’s something you’d like me to look into, please get in touch – or you can report issues online.
Read my latest news updates or check my recent facebook posts to find out what I’m up to!
Please follow and share my Facebook and Instagram and TikTok accounts, or sign up for my Email Newsletter so I can keep you up to date on local issues.
You can also take a look at my video looking back at some of our achievements in 2024!
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I wrote to every household in the area and delivered residents surveys to to find what issues you’d like to see tackled in our community. You can still complete this survey online if you have not already. |
If you would like to contact me about any local issue please do get in touch.
Thank you for your support!
Here’s what I’ve been up to recently…
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
POTHOLE PATROL UPDATE – MINSHULL NEW ROAD
Back out in my frequented spot this morning for more pothole patrol on Minshull New Road.
Despite reporting all the potholes before Christmas, meeting up with a highways officer on site a couple of weeks ago, and checking the area again last week and earlier this week, there’s been almost no work done so far.
Rest assured, I’ll keep chasing this up. I’ve also asked if the debris left from the potholes can be cleared to make the road safer.
And if anyone in Crewe fancies lending a bit of moral support to a lowly councillor battling the potholes, I’m accepting tea, biscuits, and motivational comments. Preferably all three.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
GETTING OUR ROADS ACTUALLY GRITTED ❄️🚗
Over the Christmas period, a number of residents contacted me with serious concerns about road safety during the snowfall. Several accidents took place around the new roundabout on Minshull New Road, including one that resulted in a street light being hit and later removed. It was also clear that the road from Tottys Hall Way from the hospital to the roundabout had not been gritted.
I raised these same concerns last year. At the time, I was told the roads were not included on the gritting maps as they were newly built. I asked for them to be assessed and considered for inclusion.
I’ve continued to push on this, because when you look at the gritting map, the issue is obvious. The blue roads are gritted, but there is a major gap at Tottys Hall Way and Brian Palin Way that people must travel through to reach the hospital. That is not acceptable, especially in icy conditions.
Unfortunately, I’ve again been told today that my request has been declined. The response I received was that Tottys Hall Way “was reassessed and does not currently meet the criteria to be added to the routes.”
I’ve written back to Highways asking for this decision to be reconsidered. These are key routes, on gradients, used by residents and emergency services, and I will continue pressing the case to improve safety for everyone.
"Dear Highways Resilience Manager,
Thank you for your reply and for confirming that Bob Brown Way is included in the winter treatment network.
I am, however, very concerned that Tottys Hall Way and Brian Palin Way remain excluded. As the attached map shows, these are key routes to Leighton hospital that will be used by members of the public and emergency services alike, particularly in urgent situations. The current arrangements leave a clear “gap” in the route to and from the hospital, which could pose serious safety risks.
Additionally, Tottys Hall Way and the roundabout on Minshull New Road are both on a gradient, which increases the risk of accidents in icy conditions. These are accidents which were seen during the last snowfall, including what lead to the removal of a lamp post column.
Given that these roads lie between routes already gritted, it seems that including them would require minimal additional resource while providing significant safety benefits.
I would respectfully ask that Asset Management consider adding these roads to the winter treatment network to protect everyone who uses them, including ambulances and other emergency vehicles.
Thank you for taking this into consideration. I would be grateful if you could keep me updated on any review or changes regarding these routes.
Best regards,
Cllr James Pratt"
If you want to support my call for these routes to be gritted, please email letusknow@cheshireeast.gov.uk
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
OUT ON FOOT AND WORKING FOR ST BARNABAS
Yesterday was taken up with meetings for most of the day, but today I have been back out on foot across our area.
Some of you may have noticed there is major work going on locally today. Alongside this, I have also been raising a number of smaller but important issues that need attention.
Here is a snapshot of what I have been working on today:
• Minshull New Road roundabout (by Morrisons Daily)
Litter clearance requested
• McNeill Avenue
Fly tipping and potholes reported
Street lighting repair request
• Leighton Brook Park
Fly tipping in the wooded area reported for clearance
• Minshull New Road
Weekly visit completed and further potholes reported
• Plus a few other issues picked up along the way
As mentioned in previous posts, I will continue to chase for updates on the further works planned for Minshull New Road and keep residents informed.
This is why it matters to be a councillor who actually lives in the community they represent. You see the issues first hand, listen to residents, and get on with working to get things done.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
MINSHULL NEW ROAD – UPDATE
Following my post last week after meeting with a highways officer, and after my previous two visits to Minshull New Road, I went back again today to check progress.
Some of the potholes I reported have now been marked out for repair, and a few have also been filled with temporary repairs, which is a step in the right direction. However, many others still have not been included.
I’ve reported several more today and I am continuing to press for clear, specific details on the work I have been promised for this road. I will keep pushing and I will keep you updated.
In the meantime, you can really help by reporting any potholes or highways issues you spot in our area.
📞 To report highways issues including roads, potholes and flooding, call 0300 123 5020
💻 Or report online here:
👉 www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/
The more reports that go in, the harder it is for these issues to be ignored. Thank you for your support.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
FLY TIPPING – TAKING MORE ACTION
I’ve been back out on foot around St Barnabas ward again this morning, and sadly I’ve had to report yet more cases of fly tipping.
This is down to a small number of irresponsible people who choose to dump their waste instead of disposing of it properly. It is frustrating for residents and unfair on our community.
I’ve also been listening carefully to residents’ concerns about CCTV. I am continuing to push the council to get this in place, especially in the worst hotspot areas. Watch this space. I certainly am.
If you see fly tipping, please do your bit and report it so it can be cleared up as quickly as possible.
📞 Call 0300 123 5011
💻 Or report it online here:
👉 www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/
Together, we can keep St Barnabas cleaner and make it clear that fly tipping will not be tolerated.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
ROLLS AVENUE - STREET LIGHT SORTED!
Highways decided to replace a street light on Rolls Avenue near the two bus stops by Chassagne Square before Christmas, a resident raised this to me, as the job was unfinished and there was no actual light on the pole! That's not much use?
I contacted highways about the issue, who advised they were ordering a new part. I'm pleased to confirm the new light has been fitted and the area is properly lit again.
If you spot a street light that's out, please report it using this link
www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
KEEPING LEIGHTON BROOK PARK LOOKING GREAT
Had a great catch-up with Crewe Town Council's Park Ranger Wayne earlier this week – Leighton Brook Park is looking really good! It’s been a real team effort over the past 2–3 years, including the £100k revamp invested by the Town Council, and it’s fantastic to see the space being enjoyed by so many in our community.
Another improvement is on its way for the park, and I’ll share the details with you soon!
Meanwhile, another Rangers team was out litter picking on Frank Webb Avenue this week, responding to a request I recently made, and helping keep our streets tidy.
Big thanks to Wayne and all the Rangers for the brilliant work they do across St Barnabas and the wider Crewe area – it really makes a difference to our community.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
TACKLING FLY TIPPING TO KEEP OUR STREETS CLEAN
Whilst out on foot this week across St Barnabas, I’ve reported a number of fly tipping incidents. Sadly, there’s been a noticeable increase recently, and you may recognise some of the spots in the photos.
I’ve logged each area for clean-up and will be working with our community officers, especially in hotspot areas, to tackle the problem together.
There may also be changes coming to the booking system at Pyms Lane tip (household waste recycling centre). I’ve raised with my councillor colleagues how important it is that everyone can access the tip, and my view is that the booking system can sometimes act as an unnecessary barrier.
If you see fly tipping, please don’t ignore it. A quick report helps get it cleared up and keeps our area tidy.
Report fly tipping online:
www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/
Or call: 0300 123 5011