NEW local travel hubs offering communities access to bikes, electric car chargers and other services are to be trialled in Halesowen.

The first three Local Travel Points (LTPs) are to be installed at Huntingtree Park, Cross Street and Andrew Road over the next two months.

The modular hubs, designed and developed by Transport for West Midlands( TfWM) with Dudley Council and Black Country Transport, can be assembled to fit parking bays and small public spaces and bring together travel and community services to suit the location.

They are designed to make it easier for people to choose active, shared and sustainable travel for short trips, and to better link communities to wider bus, rail and tram services.

The £400,000 pilot scheme is being funded as part of the region’s Future Transport Zone and will lead the way for the further roll out of Local Travel Points.

The Huntingtree Park hub will include WM Cycle Hire, cycle storage, car club access, a parcel locker, a canopied seating area/bench, and travel information point. It will closely coordinate with the team at the neighbouring Healthy Hub Activity Centre.

The hub at Andrew Road car park, on the edge of the town centre, will include all the Huntingtree Park hub facilities plus an electric car charging point.

While the hub at Cross Street – the most residential location - will have an active travel-focused offer with cycle hire provided.

Andy Street, Mayor of the West Midlands and WMCA chairperson, said: “These local travel points bring together a range of emissions free options for people on the move like our cycle hire service as well as electric car charging and locate them right in the heart of our smaller local centres and neighbourhoods.

“They will make it convenient and easy for people to make a low carbon, healthy travel choice – especially for shorter journeys – and provide better links to bigger town and regional centres.

“This is all part of our investment in green transport to reduce car use, improve air quality and tackle the climate emergency. I look forward to seeing them installed and up and running in the next few weeks.”

Cllr Damian Corfield, Dudley Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment with Dudley Council, added: “We are delighted to see this pilot scheme coming to parts of Dudley borough.

“I am sure we will have many residents using the travel hubs in order to be more sustainable in their transport choices including active travel such as cycling.”

TfWM, part of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), has already earmarked funding from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) to support the further roll out of LTPs. In future locations, extra features could be added such as e-scooter hire or a cycle maintenance and repair facility.

As part of the scheme, TfWM has also teamed up with contemporary art gallery Ikon to commission Black Country artist Tom Hicks (Black Country Type) and poet Liz Berry to host free photo walks and creative workshops in March and April.

Tom will also co-create a new public sculpture with members of the community for the Cross Street hub.

Into the future, the hubs may become a focal point for cycle training or other community activities – starting with the Ikon Gallery workshops. For full details visit ikon-gallery.org/news. Places need to be booked by emailing education@ikon-gallery.org