THE first major spending cut backs of the new decade were made when Bromsgrove District Council was forced to virtually half its £719,500 'shopping' budget. Among the casualties were changing rooms for football pitches at Charford, improved facilities at Sanders Park and a £2,000 grant towards Sport for All activities.

THE weather was blamed for the delay in supermarket Fine Fare, now ASDA, not yet getting is own adjacent car park. It was to be constructed on land now occupied by the district council's depot in Churchfields, but the icy weather had delayed work on the new depot at Aston Fields. There was much confusion because many shoppers wrongly believed the large park in front of the store belonged to Fine Fare and was free, and meant they didn't have to pay for a ticket.

GRAFTON Manor, on the outskirts of Bromsgrove, and the former grand home of the influential Talbot family, was opened as a restaurant. It had undergone a two-year restoration by the owner, John Morris, and his family, who laid on a double celebratory dinner to mark the event and his son Stephen's 21st birthday.

A SET of bows and arrows worth £100 had been stolen from Garrington's Archery Club. Police said the five longbows and arrows could be dangerous in the wrong hands.

DENNIS Norton, owner of Bromsgrove's heritage museum, was attempting to get the town put on the tourist map. He was being joined by hoteliers and others in the tourist industry to persuade coach operators to include the town in their tours. The district council had agreed a £300 grant to help set up the scheme.