Keeping Our Streets Safe: Pothole Patrol on West Street

As part of my ongoing efforts to ensure our streets are safe and well-maintained, I recently took another walk along West Street in St Barnabas as part of my regular “Pothole Patrol.” This stretch of road has long been a concern for residents, and I know why – I live locally and use this route frequently. Driving along there, it’s hard to miss the bumps and dips that make this road less safe for everyone. It’s simply not good enough.

Many of you have contacted me over the past months about the state of West Street. If you’ve been following my updates, you’ll know this is an area where I’ve been calling for repair work for some time. Earlier in the year, I was advised that the road and footpath improvements would be carried out over the summer. Unfortunately, that hasn’t happened yet. I understand the delay is due to ongoing construction on the new housing estate opposite, but that doesn’t stop me from continuing to press the relevant teams to ensure both the road and footpath get the attention they need.

During my most recent patrol, I reported all the potholes I came across along the stretch. This is just one way of making sure that our roads are kept on the radar of the council teams responsible for street maintenance. If you spot potholes while out and about, please don’t ignore them – report them. You can do so quickly and easily online here:

Reporting issues as a community helps highlight problem areas and can speed up action. Potholes aren’t just an inconvenience; they can be dangerous for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians alike. By making sure every pothole is logged, we can work together to reduce the risk of accidents and damage.

Hopefully, the potholes along West Street will be “made good” soon, at least as a temporary measure until a full repair can be carried out. In the meantime, I will continue to keep a close eye on the road during my regular Pothole Patrols, making sure that progress is being made and that the issue remains a priority for the council.

Our local streets should be safe, reliable, and accessible for everyone. I will keep pushing to make that happen, and your help by reporting problems makes a real difference. Together, we can make sure that West Street, and other areas in our community, are kept in the best possible condition.