THE date for work to start on the pedestrianisation of Bromsgrove High Street had been set for March 9. Through traffic would be banned from the town centre between New Road and Stratford Road, except for deliveries. As yet there were no plans to plant trees or lay paving.

AN ambitious public appeal for £50,000, launched just six weeks ago by Bromsgrove's Avoncroft Museum of Buildings, could be reached swiftly. Already half that amount had been raised or promised and a wealthy anonymous benefactor had pledged to double every subsequent pound donated to the fund. The money would be used to complete various projects.

BRITAIN'S number one female squash player, Sue Cogswell, has been chosen as the first resident professional at the new Cofton Hill Squash Club in Rednal. Sue, aged 28, from Hall Green, was ranked second in the world and would take up her post in March. The new club was to have eight courts and a maximum of 800 members, 600 of whom had already signed up.

ONE thousand workers at the Garrington's factory in Aston Fields were expected to be laid of as the national steel strike dragged on. Six hundred had already be sent home and a further 350 were on short time.

EXERCISE books and pencils were giving way to video screens and keyboards as the silicone chip revolution arrived at a Bromsgrove school. South Bromsgrove High School's parents' association had raised £2,000 to buy the revolutionary equipment to aid lessons and study.