A PETITION aimed at saving a much-needed Clevedon bus service was handed to North Somerset Council last night (Tues), with more than 580 signatures inscribed on it.

The petition was created by June Blease after the unitary authority announced the 800 service would be axed from April due to cost-cutting measures.

Used by many pensioners to get to town centre facilities including the post office and library, and by families and children to get to school, the service runs Monday to Friday and is considered a lifeline by many people.

The petition was left in many shops and businesses around Clevedon and June also collected signatures herself.

The 72-year-old of Beaconsfield Road, said: “I am really pleased with how many people have signed the petition.

“There are lots of people who have signed who said they don’t use the service themselves but know people who need it.”

North Somerset councillor for Clevedon, David Shopland, was due to hand over the petition during a Town Hall meeting in Weston last night.

It asks the council to review its decision to scrap the 800 service and to look at alternative ways of continuing such a route, possibly through a reduced frequency.

During last night’s meeting, June also gave a speech to councillors in the hope of highlighting the concerns of those who rely on the service.

Earlier this month the Times reported how Nailsea-based company, North Somerset Coaches, had been in contact with Clevedon Town Council to see if it could run a scaled-down, replacement to the 800 service.

However, June is still concerned if an alternative is not introduced by April, one will never materialise.

She said: “We are running out of time to get one in place.

“If we have a gap I can see it never coming back.”