A PLAN to enlarge Cradley's listed village hall has been referred to the Government for permission.

The village hall committee has submitted an application to extend the rear of the building to provide toilets, add a meeting room and build a local history resource room above the kitchen.

The building dates from 1504 and is Grade II listed, which is why the application needs to be referred to the Secretary of State for the Environment, Transport and the Regions.

The project is estimated to cost about £230,000 and so far more than £100,000 has been raised from the Malvern Millions, the Mercia Environmental Fund and community support.

Cradley Parish Council has raised no objection but one letter of objection was submitted by the residents of The Elms, which is next door to the village hall.

The main reasons for the objection are that access to the hall is very restricted - the no-through road is about 10ft wide - there is no room for turning and cars need to reverse to leave the hall, cars block access to The Elms and evening functions cause noise disturbance.

Planning officers said the plan was well designed and a "sensitive solution" to providing additional facilities.

As to the neighbour's concerns, the officers felt that the hall would only have limited increased use.

The planning committee agreed to refer the application to the Secretary of State with a recommendation that he should be "mindful not to refuse".