AT the time of writing, August 1, I see the High Street improvements in Bromsgrove still have some way to go to completion. I believe we were told the contract was from February until July.

There is still much work to be done by Poundland, several patches (holes) the length of the High Street, the whole of Church Street and the High Street at the Church Street junction.

At the current rate of working, the end of August would seem to be an optimistic completion date.

No doubt the council will have a severe penalty clause in place and now this can be enforced and the resultant payments used to give council tax relief to all the businesses that have been affected – with yet another retailer (Hallmark Cards) having a closing down sale.

With the area from Lloyds Bank to the Strand nearing some sort of completion, I see several indelible pen markings on the paving (from Lloyds Bank to the Post Office). Are these indicating the first area to be excavated by one of the utility companies?

It is also interesting to see the choice of paving materials, in rather pale shades.

With the recent bright sunshine, the glare has been severe.

However, the oil stains from traffic and discarded chewing gum has all helped to darken the surface, so by this time next year, the glare problem may have been solved.

Julian Hill, Old Birmingham Road Bromsgrove