A COMMUNITY memorial for a former Redditch councillor has been put on hold after the residents he served ran out of cash from their neighbourhood group budget.

At a meeting last month, residents at Church Hill Neighbourhood Group meeting discussed buying some form of memorial to Ken Somner, who died in September 2005.

Mr Somner was a founder member of Church Hill Residents' Association and a former Redditch Mayor.

He was chairman of Redditch Co-operative Homes, involved with the town branches of the Royal British Legion and Age Concern and chaired Redditch Carnival Committee for many years.

Councillor David Hunt, who was present at the neighbourhood group meeting, said: "Residents felt they did want to do something to commemorate Councillor Somner in the area that he served so well but sadly, the money just wasn't available from the group budget.

"But residents did say they might apply to Redditch Council and see if it were possible to get a grant for some form of memorial."

A council spokesman said: "There are several more formal ways in which the council routinely commemorates former mayors. Their names are added to the roll of honour in the council chamber each year and street names are often allocated to them.

"In Councillor Somner's case, a street name is already allocated in respect of the new Co-op Homes development off Farm Road in Lakeside."

The council said if Church Hill residents still wanted some form of memorial to Mr Somner in their area, community fundraising may be the best option.