Free shuttle bus for shoppers

Shoppers struggling to get into a Black Country town because of major redevelopment work were being given a helping hand from today with the introduction of a free shuttle bus called the Halesowen Hopper.

It will run for three months and link Halesowen town centre shops and temporary bus stops set up along Queensway while work is done.

The Hopper will run a free service every 10 minutes from 9.30am to 3.30pm Mondays to Saturdays covering a full circular route.

The service will serve both sides of the town by stopping on Pool Road, opposite the leisure centre, and on the High Street opposite the church.

The three-month trial has been introduced after complaints the multi-million pound development work was making it difficult for elderly shoppers to get into the town.

Pensioners' groups said people were struggling to get to the shops because they were having to walk further from the temporary stops and cross busy roads.

The temporary shelters have had to be set up while the town's bus station undergoes a £3 million overhaul which is part of a £30 million facelift of the Cornbow shopping centre and the surrounding road network.

Tom Delaney, Centro project manager for Halesowen redevelopment, said: "The Halesowen Hopper will really help to improve accessibility to the shops and bus stops in the town centre, particularly for elderly people with limited mobility and also those with pushchairs or heavy shopping.

"We are very pleased to have been able to continue the successful partnership working with Dudley Council and Vale Retail that has been evident throughout the whole project to build a better Halesowen to allow this shuttle bus trial to take place."

Adrian Oliver, director of Vale Retail, which owns the Cornbow centre, said the Hopper would make it easier for people to get around the town because it would link the shops with the temporary bus stops.