TRAFFIC has emerged as the main cause for concern after a public consultation exercise in Cradley.

Villagers were asked for their comment as part of the process to produce a Parish Plan.

The Cradley and Storridge Parish Plan Steering Group found that 282 queries on 65 different issues were raised in relation to traffic, after analysing the results of a Planning for Real event at Cradley's Royal British Legion Club in May.

Residents were asked to highlight areas of concern by sticking flags into a 3D map. The map was made by schoolchildren, whose views at a separate school event were also included in the analysis.

A total of 282 flags were connected with traffic issues, the most predominant being safety for non-car users, the need for footpaths, the impact of a new school site, HGVs, speeding on the A4103 and maintaining present lane widths.

Many of the traffic issues were later raised at a Priorities Event linked to the Jubilee Jamboree in Cradley, with 20 identified as being a top priority.

Other issues raised included 19 housing/ planning concerns (114 flags) and 24 environment issues (85 flags).

Priorities were to preserve wooded gardens in Westfields, litter and dog mess and, in the community, leisure and health areas, the future of the village's British Legion, the need for places to skateboard and health risks posed by rats and sewage.

The steering group's Sally Ramsden said the data was now being included in a draft action plan.

She said: "This will really kick off in September, although we have already started a dialogue with the school on bringing together their Travel Plan, which is needed to get planning permission for a new school site, and the Parish Plan.

"We can already see that this will be a very fruitful partnership."

The group is also preparing to send a questionnaire to every household to address a Village Design Statement (VDS) and is hoping that it will plug a gap in responses from the 26 to 40-year-old age range, evident in other events.

The VDS will form part of the Parish Plan.

A guided village walk to see the 'Sites and Sights' has been organised as part of the process for Sunday, July 21. It meets at the British Legion Car Park at 2pm.