EMERGENCY service and waste collection vehicles will soon be able to travel along Portishead's West Hill easier thanks to a change in the road's existing double yellow lines.

The double yellow lines, which run west to east up to where Stoney Steep meets West Hill, are set to be extended by up to 18 metres.

This will restrict parking in a problematic pinch point along the road.

The change follows feedback from First Bus, who have reported how buses are often unable to access the West Hill stop.

The update is due to come into force in May, and is being funded as part of the North Somerset Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP).

Cllr Hannah Young, executive member for Highways and Transport, said: “Deterring parking at this small spot will help to ensure communities aren’t having their vital bus services needlessly cancelled, while also protecting our local heritage.”

Cllr Sue Mason, ward councillor for Portishead West, said: “This change makes a lot of sense given the issues which are being experienced on West Hill, and will hopefully go some way to alleviating these.”

Fellow Portishead West ward councillor, Nicola Holland, added: “We don’t want our communities to suffer the loss of access to services, especially when a simple fix is available to us.”