Dear fellow residents,

It's time for my February update on what I've been up to (or for once, not quite so much on this edition!)

In this newsletter I reveal where I have been the past few weeks!  Also I'm asking for your feedback on an HMO proposal for Chassagne square, clean up of the Beechmere site, an update on West Street potholes, how to avoid a scam doing the rounds, and much more.

If you want to check my previous newsletters you can read them all online.

You can always see my latest updates on my facebook page.  Remember to click like and follow to stay updated.  I'm also on Instagram too.

Please forward or share this newsletter with your St Barnabas area friends and neighbours so I can keep other residents up to date on what I am up to in our area.

Anyone can sign up to receive my newsletter by visiting

www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/newsletter

If you've missed a previous newsletter, you can view them all online here.

LEIGHTON HOSPITAL - THANK YOU!

You may have noticed that I’ve been a little less visible in the community over the past few weeks. Unfortunately, I had an accident at the beginning of February, which has meant I’ve had to take some time to recover.

I want to extend my thanks to the incredible staff at Leighton Hospital for their care and support. Their dedication and hard work make such a difference, and I am truly grateful for everything they do. You never know when you might need them, but it’s reassuring to know they are always there when it matters most.

Despite my temporary absence from being "on the streets" of our ward, I have continued to carry out my councillor duties, attending meetings and working on local issues as best I can. While I’ve not been out and about as much as usual, I've made a good recovery and I'm looking forward to being back out working for St Barnabas as we head into March.

🚨 BEECHMERE GRAFFITI CLEAN-UP PLANNED 🚨

We know how important it is to keep our community looking its best, so I wanted to update you on the graffiti at the Beechmere site (end of Frank Webb Avenue).

Although this site isn’t managed by Cheshire East, I’ve met with a representative from YHG, who are responsible for it, and asked for the graffiti to be removed and the damaged fencing to be made secure.

The incident has also been reported to Cheshire Police, along with CCTV evidence for investigation.  If you have any information on this incident please call 101 quoting Occ 25000068832.

Thank you to everyone who raised this issue - I’ll keep you posted on progress! 👍

📢 HAVE YOUR SAY – HMO PLANNING APPLICATION AT CHASSAGNE SQUARE 📢

A planning application has been submitted for change of use at 31 Chassagne Square to a 6-person HMO (House of Multiple Occupation) – application ref 25/0432/CLPUD.

I encourage all residents to share their views on this proposal with the Planning Department. Your feedback is important!

🏡 You can view the details and submit your comments online by clicking the "Submit Representation" button here

Make sure to have your say before the deadline of 7th March! ⏳🏡

ALLEYWAY CLEAN UP NOMINATIONS NEEDED

I’m passionate about making our area of Crewe St Barnabas a cleaner, more attractive place to live for all it’s residents.

That’s why I’m excited to be working on a Cleaner Crewe project – a new initiative focused on tackling problem areas in our community.

Now, I need your help!

I’m looking for nominations for alleyways in our area that could benefit from a clean-up project. Whether it’s overgrown weeds, fly-tipping, abandoned bins, or general neglect, I want to know about it.

Do you have an alleyway near your home that needs some attention? Let me know!

Together, we can make a real difference and help transform our neighbourhood into a cleaner, more welcoming space for everyone.

Nominate your alleyway for a clean up project 👇
Click this link!

🚨 ANOTHER COUNCIL TAX HIKE – I VOTED AGAINST IT! 🚨

At Wednesdays Full Council Budget meeting, the Labour/Independent leadership pushed through yet another maximum 4.99% council tax increase.  Once again, residents are being asked to pay more while getting fewer services in return.

I voted against this rise. Unfortunately, the budget and tax increase are tied together, meaning they must be voted on as one.  While there are some parts of the budget I support, I believe the Council needs a complete overhaul in how it manages public money.

People in Crewe aren’t blind to waste and inefficiency – they see it every day. We can’t keep paying more and getting less.   Simply demanding more money from residents isn’t the answer.

Please let me know your thoughts on this.

🚧 WEST STREET PROGRESS UPDATE 🚧

Anyone who follows my socials will know that I have been relentlessly pushing for improvements to the road and pavements on West Street.

I have repeatedly raised this issue, highlighting the poor condition of the carriageway and footpaths, and demanding action.

After persistent lobbying and constant pressure, I’m pleased to confirm that the carriageway near St Barnabas Church has now been prioritised for patching this summer.

On top of that, the footway has been added to a future rolling programme for resurfacing – though we are still waiting on funding.

Let’s be clear – this is not the full resurfacing I have been demanding, and I won’t stop here. I have already gone back to Highways to push for more substantial works and will keep the pressure on until we see real improvements.

📢 Keep reporting issues! If you spot potholes or road defects, please help strengthen our case by reporting them via:

📍 FixMyStreet app

💻 Online at https://www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/report-an-issue/

📞 Call Highways at 0300 123 5020

I’ll keep fighting for West Street – and I won’t let this drop! 💪

🚧 WEEKEND ISSUES REPORTED 🚧

Out and about over last weekend, I noticed a few issues that need addressing and have reported them:

🔹 Pothole on the roundabout outside Grand Junction Retail Park

🔹 Pothole on Oak Street outside William James Carpets

🔹 Fly-tipping on Dunwoody Way

If you spot anything similar, you can report it online or via the FixMyStreet app! Let’s keep our community safe and well-maintained.

🚨 BURGLARY ALERT – HOME SECURITY ADVICE 🚨

Unfortunately, a house burglary has taken place on Badger Avenue between 16:00 on 20/02/25 and 07:30 on 21/02/25. Entry was gained through a window.

Crewe Local Policing Unit generally sees very low numbers of domestic burglaries, and we want to keep it that way. Please take a moment to review your home security:

🔒 Ensure all doors, windows & outbuildings are secure

🚨 Set your house alarm if you have one

🔑 Store vehicle keys safely out of sight

For more home security advice, visit:

https://www.crewestbarnabas.org.uk/home-vehicle-security-advice/

If you’ve seen anything suspicious or have information, please call 101 quoting IML2031911. Let’s look out for each other! 👀🏡 

You can also anonymously report concerns via the Residents Voice Survey

https://www.cheshire.police.uk/residentsvoicecrewe

🚨 FLY TIPPING REPORTED – HELP KEEP OUR COMMUNITY CLEAN! 🚨

These items were dumped on the pavement outside a property – this is fly-tipping and it’s unacceptable!

❌ Fly-tipped waste is more than just an eyesore – it can be hazardous, attracting vermin, blocking pavements, and polluting our environment. It makes our community look untidy and neglected.

✅ If you have unwanted items, dispose of them properly at the Crewe Household & Recycling Centre (Pyms Lane, Crewe, CW1 3PJ).

🕒 Opening Hours:

🗓 Oct–Mar: 8:30am – 4:00pm

🗓 Apr–Sep: 8:30am – 6:00pm

💡 If you’re waiting for a collection, keep items within your property boundary to avoid causing obstructions or encouraging others to dump rubbish.

📢 See fly-tipping? Report it via the FixMyStreet app or call 0300 123 5011. Reporting helps remove waste quicker and discourages further dumping.

Find out more about waste disposal options here

Let’s work together to protect our environment and keep our streets looking their best! 💚♻️ 

📢 NEIGHBOURHOOD WATCH NEWSLETTER – FEBRUARY EDITION! 📰

I’m pleased to share the latest edition of the Neighbourhood Watch newsletter with you! This month’s highlights include:

🔹 Romance fraud & scams – How to spot the warning signs and stay safe.

🔹 Home security – SimpliSafe explains why Professional Monitoring is essential.

🔹 Scam calls – Phonely shares tips on how to prevent unwanted calls.

Read or download online here:

Stay informed and stay safe! 👀💛 #NeighbourhoodWatch #CommunitySafety #ScamAwareness

♻️ RECYCLING - WHAT GOES IN YOUR SILVER BIN? ♻️

Wondering what you can recycle in your silver bin? Here’s a quick guide! ✅

You CAN recycle:

✔️ Tins, cans & clean foil

✔️ Glass bottles & jars

✔️ Flexible plastic bottles & containers

✔️ Cartons, paper & cardboard

✔️ Empty, non-hazardous aerosols

🔹 Make sure your recycling is clean, dry, and loose (not in a tied bag).

For more details, visit the ‘What waste goes where’ page on the Cheshire East 

website.

Let's keep our community green! 🌍💚

SCAM ALERT!

Numerous reports have been made to Cheshire Police about an ongoing scam targeting residents across Crewe over the past few weeks.

⚠️ How the scam works:

Scammers are calling people, pretending to be a Detective from Cheshire Police, providing a fake name and collar number, and claiming they are based at Crewe Police Station.

📞 They usually call from a withheld number or a non-UK registered number.

🔍 They may say things like:

🔹 “Your bank card has been used in supermarkets and is now part of an investigation.”

🔹 “Your bank details have been found during an investigation, and we need you to confirm them.”

🚫 DO NOT give out any personal or financial details over the phone!

✅ Stay vigilant and share this post to warn others! If you receive a suspicious call, hang up and report it to Cheshire Police via 101 or Action Fraud.

Let’s work together to stop these scammers

That's it for now but there are many more updates on local issues and upcoming events on my Facebook and Instagram so please do follow them as I can't fit everything on the email newsletter.

If you have something you'd like me to look in to please do get in contact.

Councillor James Pratt

Crewe, St Barnabas Ward

Cheshire East & Crewe Town Council

Promoted by James Pratt of CNCA, 13 Churchyardside, CW5 5DE