'Roads would grind to a halt': Warning over Seven Cornfields housing plans

Councillor Shaun Keasey said the town would be “devastated” by an “extra 500 to 1,000 cars” on the road each day.

The proposals are to build 1,300 homes on the 284-acre green belt site, which borders Sedgley, Wolverhampton and south Staffordshire.

However fears have been raised about the impact on local infrastructure.

Councillor Keasey, who represents the Sedgley ward, said: “It would devastate Sedgley, which already can’t cope with the existing amount of traffic.

"If over 1,000 homes were to be built on this land, then Sedgley would be brought to a standstill.

"I would dread to think what Sedgley would be like with an extra 500 to 1,000 cars on the road each day.

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“It wouldn’t be a pleasant experience driving through the town centre.

“Already at rush hour, traffic backs all the way up to Lower Gornal.”

Councillor Keasey said relatively quiet residential roads in Sedgley, such as Northway, Queens Road and Catholic Lane, would be used as rat-runs to bypass the congested town centre.

He said Gospel End Road has already been affected by a recent housing development, Baggeridge Village, which has 170 homes.

Councillor Keasey also highlighted concerns about an increase in pollution, which is another sticking point for people opposed to the plans.

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Campaigners, including a wildlife charity, have raised concerns about the impact the development would have on natural habitats.

Liberal Democrats activist Nick Machnik-Foster, has asked members of the public to take photographs of wildlife, which could stop the plans from happening.

The Seven Cornfields acts as a buffer between Sedgley and Penn, and is used for farmland, horse riding and dog-walkers.

A petition to "Save the Seven Cornfields" has attracted more than 6,000 signatures.

To sign the petition, visit www.change.org/p/south-staffordshire-district-council-save-the-seven-cornfields