YATTON residents are set to benefit from better access to public transport from next month.

When the X5 bus service is re-routed between Clevedon and Weston, it will call in on Yatton as part of its hourly service. This will commence from Monday, September 4.

This is thanks to funding received from the Department for Transport to improve bus services in the area.

It is hoped that the changes, which are part of the North Somerset Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan, will provide better opportunities for residents, especially since the service will also stop near Yatton Railway Station.

The new service will run six days a week, from Monday to Saturday.

Cllr Hannah Young, North Somerset Council's executive member responsible for transport, said: "Yatton's a big village with a ward population of over 8,500 people and a railway link, so it's vital that we reconnect the community."

North Somerset Council is also planning on installing parking restrictions along the main High Street. It is hoped that this will reduce congestion.

The restrictions will be introduced along the High Street between the junctions with The Eagles and Grassmere Road.

There will be a single yellow line on the southern side of the road to restrict parking Monday to Friday between 8am and 6pm, and a double yellow line on the northern side to prevent parking issues being transferred across the road. 

The restrictions will be implemented on an experimental basis. The public will have a six month period to object to the restrictions if they wish.

During this period, the council can make adjustments to the restrictions and then they must be either removed or made permanent within 18 months of the restrictions being implemented.

All properties adjacent to the new restrictions will receive a letter outlining the changes as well as properties in neighbouring roads.

Work will begin the week commencing Monday, August 28.

Cllr Steve Bridger, local ward member for Yatton, added: "I'm pleased the council has agreed to start with minimum experimental parking restrictions and excluded Saturdays."

Cllr Chris Jackson, chairman of Yatton Parish Council, concluded: "Let's hope that the frequency, times and route are kept fixed for a good long period so that residents can develop confidence in the service and make full use of it. Ideally we'll soon see buses running through Claverham too."