A START could be made early next year on the new £50,000 headquarters for the Bromsgrove branch of the Royal British Legion. The branch had been homeless since the site of its previous HQ had been taken over by Bromsgrove Squash, Rackets and Social Club eight years ago. It had been offered a half an acre site in Factory Lane at a cost of £10,000 - a figure fixed by the district valuer.

STAFF at Hill Top Hospital would not get essential equipment for the new £160,000 operating theatre unless they raised the cash themselves. In an effort to shorten the five-year patient waiting list staff were holding an open day to raise £2,200 for urgently needed medical equipment. The theatre would be open to the public on November 22 and surgeons would also demonstrate the x-ray equipment. The Friends of the Hospitals and staff were hoping for a good turnout.

BROMSGROVE council was to support local health chiefs in pressing most strongly that Bromsgrove and Redditch should be linked to form one of the new District Health Committees and reject any tie up with Kidderminster.

MEMBERS of the newly formed Rubery Action Group delivered a questionnaire to every house to find out what leisure facilities villagers wanted. Leaflets asked residents to pick from the list of sporting and recreational pastimes that they would like to see in Rubery. The questionnaire would be an indication of the demand for a recreational centre.