BUS services in Halesowen, Cradley and Old Hill are set to change with the introduction of four amended routes.

The Number 12, 13, 14 and 17 services will begin running from January 25, serving Merry Hill shopping centre, Halesowen town centre and Blackheath.

Centro, the region’s public transport co-ordinator, reorganised the routes following talks with local councillors.

The amended routes will replace the 213, 214, 217 and 240 services to "improve reliability, simplify routes and increase patronage."

The No 12 restores a service in Old Hill and Cradley through Station Road and Barrs Road following the withdrawal of the No 297 by National Express West Midlands earlier this year. It will also provide links to Blackheath and Merry Hill.

The new routes will be subsidised by Centro and operated by Arriva Buses and iGO.

Cllr Kath Hartley, chair of Centro’s Putting Passengers First Committee, said: “The old services were encountering issues with reliability, complexity and low usage and were no longer fit for purpose.

“We reviewed them with local members to see how they could best serve the community and fill gaps resulting from other changes which had generated a high number of concerns regarding lost links.

“Centro works hard to ensure bus routes get passengers to where they want to go for jobs, amenities and health services, and I am delighted that through this work we have been able to achieve that.”

The No 12 will run from Merry Hill bus station to Blackheath via Dunns Bank, Colley Gate, and Old Hill.

The No 13 will operate from Merry Hill bus station to Halesowen via Dunns Bank, Fatherless Barn and Colley Gate. This provides new links to Halesowen for Fatherless Barn and Dunns Bank.

The No 14 will serve Brierley Hill High Street, Merry Hill bus station, Dunns Bank, Cradley Heath via Forge Lane, and Fatherless Barn via Banner Lane.

The No 17 will run from Merry Hill bus station to Halesowen via Coppice Lane, Cradley Heath High Street, Timbertree, Belle Vale and Huntingtree Road.

Each route will provide an hourly Monday to Saturday daytime service, while the No 13 will also operate Sunday daytimes.