Fresh food deliveries from local shops, straight to people’s doors by electric bike, are set to make life easier for Halifax residents who are isolating or at higher risk from COVID-19.

This is thanks to DeliverHX, an innovative new food delivery service which supports independent businesses, is good for the environment and offers a helping hand to people who are unable or nervous to go shopping due to COVID-19.

Calderdale Council has teamed up with Totally Locally and Cargodale to provide the service, after successfully bidding for £50,000 from the Government’s Department of Health and Social Care.

Customers simply order their food and other essentials online from Halifax Borough Market traders, and some other Halifax town centre shops, at www.deliverhx.co.uk They make one secure online payment and their items are delivered for free the next day by carbon neutral electric cargo bike.

Options are being discussed for DeliverHX to work with food banks to deliver to families needing food parcels, who are identified by food bank operators as needing to isolate.

The project is being run jointly by Totally Locally, a worldwide recognised organisation which supports local independent shops (and is based in Calderdale) and Cargodale, an innovative, carbon neutral delivery service using electric cargo bikes and local riders. Cargodale will operate from Halifax Borough Market.

Antony Heveningham, Director of Cargodale, said:

“We’re really pleased to be on board with this project. It’s all part of making Calderdale a safer, greener and more sustainable place for everyone.

“Our electric cargo bikes are already a familiar sight around Calderdale, providing speedy, zero emission deliveries with a smile. Our bikes fit down the small roads of our area, they are safer for people walking and cycling – and they don’t pollute our air or add to climate change.”

The scheme is free to selected shop owners and market traders, and all deliveries made are free of charge to both businesses and customers in the HX1 area and other nearby postcodes.

To find out more and to organise your delivery, visit www.deliverhx.co.uk