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
HELP GET LOST TROLLEYS OFF OUR STREETS
Out and about this week I came across a runaway trolley from Morrisons abandoned on Badger Avenue. Not quite the scenic feature we are aiming for here in St Barnabas!
Aside from making the street look scruffy, dumped trolleys can cause an obstruction on our pavements. This one has now been reported for collection.
As ever, you are the eyes and ears of our community. If you spot a stray trolley, please take a moment to report it so we can get it removed and keep our streets looking tidy.
You can report it by calling 0300 123 5011 or online at:
www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/
It only takes a couple of minutes, and it really does make a difference. Thank you for helping keep our area looking its best.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
NWCP LITTER BIN REQUEST
A number of residents have raised concerns to me about littering and the lack of litter/dog waste bins along the new roads such as Tottys Hall Way and Brian Palin Way towards the hospital on the new NWCP roads.
I did raise a request for bins here - although I have been successful over time in getting around 10 litter bins added for our ward, at this time I'm told there's no funding to install further new bins right now.
We'll have to keep an eye on this going forward - perhaps when the new homes are built there will be more "oommph" behind the request. Perhaps something we can raise with the developers to fund?
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
🚨 CREWE YOUNG PEOPLE – THIS MONDAY! 🚨
🗓 2nd March 2026 | ⏰ 6–8pm | 📍 Platform & Lyceum Square
💥 FREE activities:
🎧 DJ turntables
🎮 PlayStation 5
🎤 Karaoke
🧱 Giant Jenga
🎨 Crafts
✨ Light Reaction Games
☕ Free drinks & snacks
Come hang out, have fun, and meet people who are here to support you!
In partnership with Crewe Police, CreweCreates, South Cheshire ABC, The Dome Youth Zone, YMCA Cheshire, Crewe Alexandra F.C. and more!
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
BROOKLANDS GROVE - FENCE FIXED!
A big thank you to residents of Brooklands Grove who got in touch with me about the state of the fence between their road and the green space at the end of the grove.
When I went out to have a look, it was clear it had seen better days. Parts were rotten, sections were missing and some of it was barely standing. Not only did it look untidy, it was not helping from a safety point of view either.
I am really pleased to say the fence has now been properly repaired. It looks far better and, just as importantly, it helps slow down anyone flying through on two wheels as they come off the entrance. A simple fix, but one that makes a real difference.
While I was there, I was shown an old council sign hidden away in the bushes. It reads NO GOLF. I have to say it made me laugh. I am struggling to picture teeing off on Brooklands Grove these days. Does anyone remember this?
The new fencing also works well alongside the lockable bollards at the Frank Webb Avenue entrance that were installed last summer, stopping unauthorised vehicle access onto the green space and helping keep it for residents to enjoy.
If there is something in your area that needs sorting, please keep letting me know. It is always better when we work on these things together.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
COUNCIL TAX AND COMMON SENSE
Yesterday was Full Council and, as you can imagine, the budget meeting is always a long one. There was a lot to get through and plenty that will affect residents across Cheshire East.
One issue that affects every single household is council tax.
You may have seen that the council’s original request to increase council tax by almost 10% was refused before the meeting. What was then put forward was a rise of 4.99% – the maximum allowed without a referendum. Again.
I voted against it.
I fully understand that costs have gone up. Inflation, increasing demand for services and the need to invest sensibly are all real pressures. I am not against investment where it delivers results.
But week after week I hear from residents whose bins have not been collected. I see road repairs done badly, only for the same stretch of road to be patched up again months or sometimes just weeks later at further cost. Black bin collections are about to move from every two weeks to every three. We already pay extra for garden waste, we have to mess around booking a slot at the tip. And many of the issues raised with me could be resolved quickly if we simply did things properly first time, instead of going round in circles and wasting time and money.
I cannot justify asking residents to pay more while so many basic services are falling short. The council is not getting the basic services right.
Despite voting against it, the 4.99% increase was approved after being outvoted by Labour and Independent councillors.
The council cannot afford to waste money. And, I wonder - can you?
I will continue to push for better value for money and better services for our community.
We will all have our own thoughts on this, and I will welcome your comments below:
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
LEIGHTON BROOK PARK TIDY UP DONE
Thanks to the Parks team who responded to my recent request to tidy up the brambles around the railings in Leighton Brook Park. It's a lot tidier, and less spiky now!
As they say on Vernon Way - Every little helps! And I aim to give you Extra!!
If there's something you've spotted that needs attention please let me know
www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/contact/
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH - WE DON’T WANT THIS MESS IN OUR COMMUNITY
More flytipping reported again this week.
This time the rubbish has been dumped at:
📍 Frank Webb Avenue near the alley gate
📍 Bowen Cooke Avenue near the bin collection point and alley gates
📍 Frank Webb Avenue near the rear alleyway to Underwood West Academy
It is frustrating, it is unfair on residents, and it is not what our community deserves. We take pride in where we live. We do not want this mess in our neighbourhood.
Clean-up has been requested and action is being taken.
The good news - mobile CCTV is nearly ready to be deployed in our area. About time. Those responsible should know that we are not turning a blind eye.
If you see anything suspicious or need to report fly-tipping, littering or missed bin collections:
📞 Call 0300 123 5011
🌐 www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/
Together we can keep our community clean, safe and something we are proud of.
Councillor James Pratt - Crewe, St Barnabas
🎉 FREE WEEKLY SPORTS SESSIONS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE! 🎉
I've been out today talking to residents and delivering flyers to promote the new FREE football sessions starting Wednesday in our local park.
I’m thrilled to be working with Crewe Alexandra in the Community, supported by Guinness Housing, to bring more free activities for our young people in Leighton Brook Park, right in the heart of our Crewe St Barnabas community.
⚽ WHEN & WHERE
🗓 Starting Wednesday 25 February, then every Wednesday
⏰ 6pm – 7.15pm
📍 Floodlit Sports MUGA, Leighton Brook Park, Frank Webb Avenue, CW1 3NE
🚶♂️ Walk down on foot, or parking available on Frank Webb Avenue
👧🧑 WHO CAN JOIN
Ages 8–16 | Completely free | No booking – just turn up!
💪 WHY GET INVOLVED
✅ Stay active and healthy
✅ Build confidence & teamwork skills
✅ Make new friends
✅ Have fun in a safe, welcoming environment
Don’t miss out – come along, get active, and be part of something special in our community!