SHOPPERS are invited to share their views on how they feel about returning to Dudley borough’s town centres.

People visiting Brierley Hill, Dudley, Halesowen or Stourbridge are asked to look out for signs on benches, bollards, lampposts and planters with text numbers and QR codes allowing them to have an interactive conversation.

The conversation is anonymous but the council hopes to find out how shoppers about visiting town centres now restrictions have eased and how often they shop on their local high street.

The new initiative using technology hosted by Hello Lamp Post has been partly funded by the ERDF Reopening the High Streets Fund which was awarded to the council to spend on specific activity including Covid-19 signage in the town centres, temporary improvements to social distancing measures and consultations with residents.

Councillor Simon Phipps, Dudley's cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said: "It’s important for us to understand how people are feeling about being out and about again, so we can ensure people feel safe in our town centres.

"It’s been a really tough time for our businesses, and we want to continue encouraging people to shop locally and support the economy. That’s why we’re using new ways of communicating with visitors to the town so we can learn what more we can do to make shopping local an even better experience.

To find out more visit dudleybusinessfirst.org.uk/initiatives or look for signs in Brierley Hill, Dudley, Halesowen and Stourbridge.