BROMSGROVE was given a top priority rating for a five figure Sports Council grant towards the new community sports centre under consideration. District councillors were expected to be told that a 50 per cent grant would be available for the building, expected to cost more than £100,000. Neville Lewis, senior regional officer for the Sports Council, told the amenities committee that Bromsgrove was in need of sport facilities. The idea of the sports hall was that the public could use it without having to join a club or become a member of an organisation. A typical sports hall could include a tennis court, five badminton courts and various other facilities with eight staff to man it. Mr Lewis said the wages of the eight staff would come to at least £25,000 a year.

TESCO scotched rumours this week that its Bromsgrove store was to close. Rumours were rife in the town about the fate of the shop on the corner of High Street and Stratford Road. But head office pledged the store would not close and there would be no redundancies.

BROMSGROVE Society's plans to resurrect the town's carnival were backed by Bromsgrove Junior Chamber, it announced at its annual general meeting. The carnival had not appeared in town since 1957 when it was run by the Friends of Bromsgrove General Hospital with the Court Leet. It was hoped to be resurrected in 1981 and would consist of a procession of floats.

THE latest stage in the development of Bromsgrove Norton Collection museum was open for business. The 50-seat conference room at the museum opened its doors for the first time to the public. The second storey room was built in the 18th century and furnished in the original style. Mr and Mrs Dennis Norton hoped the room would be used by local organisations for conferences and exhibitions.