THERE are not enough activities for young people, work is needed on the “poor” roads and footpaths and traffic management needs to be improved, residents have told council bosses.

But townspeople praised the progress of the new academy and leisure centre, and provided positive feedback for the ice rink set up in the town centre over Christmas.

The information is in a new Neighbourhood Plan, which sets out the priorities for Darwen in the next year.

The 12-page document has been adopted by the Darwen and Rural Neighbourhood Board, which was set up to work on local projects and give out funding.

Two consultation events were held in March, at Derw-ent Hall, Darwen, and the Barlow Institute, Edgworth.

According to feedback from the Darwen event, more cycle paths and walking routes are needed, as well as better access to the Post Office and health centre.

People living in Rural areas highlighted a lack of car parking and traffic congestion in Turton, Edgworth and Entwistle as concerns.

On the plus side, more visi-ble policing had been provid-ed in the past 12 months and weekly bin collections were a positive development.

The plan for 2009/10 sets out the three key priorities as making the streets cleaner, improving traffic and making the town safer.

Grants given by the board to date include £3,000 for the ice rink, £10,000 to improve CCTV equipment, and £15,000 for a police car.

Neighbourhood board chairman John Sturgess said the plan explained the “ground rules” the board would be working towards.

He added: “It responds to what people are looking for and explains what we are going to do.”

Labour Sunnyhurst councillor Dave Hollings, who sits on the board, said the document was no different to previous versions produced before the days of neighbourhood boards.