A MAJOR Stourbridge consultation project by Dudley Council has left the town MP asking when action will replace words.

The results of a survey carried out in autumn revealed road improvement, crime prevention and development of the shopping centre are all high on people's agenda.

Stourbridge MP Lynda Waltho believes the questionnaire based research fails to deliver any new information.

Mrs Waltho said: "I think the figures confirm what those of us who live in, work in and use the town centre already know.

"The council seems to believe we should wait for the Stourbridge Area Action Plan, it doesn't even start consultation until next March and is not expected to be adopted for at least four years.

"We can't wait that long, we need action much sooner than that."

The six-week project, which according to a council spokesman cost £3,500, featured newspaper advertising, an exhibition stand by the town clock and a permanent stand in Stourbridge Library.

Over 700 letters were sent to stakeholders and a web page was set up to encourage people to take part.

Council officers analysed 839 responses with 84 per cent of respondents living within the Stourbridge post code.

Among the statistics to emerge from the survey, called Stourbridge Town Matters, 84 per cent of respondents wanted an increase in department store provision while over two-thirds would like to see less pubs in the town.

Two-thirds of respondents said the quality of the environment in the town centre was relatively low and frequent users of Stourbridge thought Halesowen offered a better range of facilities, although Halesowen shoppers thought the opposite.

Cars proved the most popular way to get into the town with 54 per cent while buses brought 13 per cent.