A CALL is being made for a start date to be set for the repair of the imposing stone steps leading to St John's parish church.

In March we reported how the county council, through its leader Councillor Dr George Lord from Marlbrook, had stepped in with an offer of £80,000 to fund the work to repair the 42 steps linking St John Street with the hill top church. The steps were closed after being considered unsafe as a public footpath. However, a date for the commencement of work on the Grade I listed steps, which date from at least 1656, has yet to be set. Some claim this is due in part to the number of parties interested in the project, each of whom have an input.

These include the church authorities, the county and district councils, the local conservation officer, the Highways Partnership and Bromsgrove Society.

Now Tory district councillors Rita Dent and Dennis Norton, who represent the town centre St John's ward, say they are dismayed at the delay and have arranged a meeting with interested parties at County Hall on December 1.

Cllr Norton said: "The steps were closed 13 months ago and that time has since been extended. We have asked for a meeting to find out what is happening."

Cllr Dent added: "We fear if the project is simply allowed to drift indefinitely the allocated funds may drift with it." But Dr Lord said: "As far as I am concerned everything is going according to plan, but these things do take time."