On 1^st May 2009 I learned that the 993 bus service running from Banners Gate to Birmingham City Centre is to be discontinued from 31^st May 2009.  I was totally unaware of any proposed changes to this route until a very friendly and helpful bus driver told me on my way to work.
He was surprised that I knew nothing about this as he, like me, was under the impression that any such changes were made after consulting with passengers.
I telephoned Dean Watkins at Perry Barr Depot (who gave a talk at one of our Neighbourhood Forum meetings) and he confirmed that the bus service from Banners Gate was being withdrawn from 31^st May 2009 and the reason that we had not been advised of the proposed changes was that the publicity leaflets and posters were in the process of being printed. 
This implies that we, the passengers, were never going to be asked for our opinions and that the bus company had no intention of taking passengers' views and comments into account when making the decision to withdraw this service.  The first thing that we would have known about this was when publicity material appeared (or didn't - and we were stranded waiting for a bus which was not going to arrive).
The 993 bus will now cut out Banners Gate completely travelling from Bakers Lane along Sutton Oak Road, George Frederick Road and Rough Road and there will be no replacement for users of the 993.  Chester Road and Banners Gate will be left with no bus service.
I and a lot of other people rely on this bus, for travelling to and from work each day between Banners Gate and Birmingham City Centre.  There are members of our Neighbourhood Forum who have heaped praise on the current 993 service, which they use during the day.
As many of you will be aware, I campaigned long and hard when the 113 service, which had served us for many years, was withdrawn and managed to eventually succeed (after about 18 months) in obtaining the 993A, which was intermittent and unreliable and was further improved to the 993.
This has been an excellent and well-used service. 
I have written to Andrew Mitchell MP, Cllrs. Malcolm Cornish, Stuart Clarkson and  Alan Rudge, Sutton News, Sutton Observer, Birmingham Mail, Travel Care, and Centro and invite everybody else affected to voice their opinions also.  The more people who do so, the more likely we are to be heard.  Please help.                                                                                                                 Sue Atkins

If you know, ring 0845 113 5000, ask for Sutton Coldfield police and tell them.  Removing graffiti is expensive and downgrades an area. The one on the right is on the Community Hall, the one on the left is on a grey box nearby.

Deliverers of Gatepost wanted, from July and then every other month, for:- Welshman's Hill + Honily Drive; Dunchurch Crescent;  Greenway Drive.  Do you have 30 minutes to spare six times a year?  Look at it as a free Keep Fit class.