Parking restriction plan for car clogged village bus route

New parking restrictions are to be introduced in part of Weston-super-Mare^[1] - to stop cars blocking the route. North Somerset Council wants to bring in the restrictions along the X5 bus^[2] route in Weston Village.

The move follows ongoing problems with vehicles parking along the route, blocking access for buses^[3], emergency vehicles and refuse trucks. The X5 bus service was withdrawn earlier this year after parked cars blocked routes.

Drivers^[4] were forced to go over kerbs, damaging footways and the vehicles themselves, posing a danger to pedestrians. Refuse trucks have also encountered issues in the past, meaning bins have been left unemptied.

Bringing back the X5 bus - which now includes a Saturday service - is part of North Somerset’s Bus Improvement Service Plan (BSIP). North Somerset Council executive member for transport and highways Councillor Hannah Young said: “For First Bus^[6] to bring back this important service and for it to run reliably, we need to address parking issues within Weston Village.

“The plans have been agreed by the ambulance and refuse services and now we need to hear from the people that use the roads^[7] every day. It’s vital residents’ feedback on the proposals to ensure that the plans best meet the needs of the village.”

Following a successful bid to the Department for Transport (DfT), over £105m of Government funding has been allocated for bus^[8] improvements, with £48m earmarked for capital improvements in North Somerset alone. A further £57.5m will be used as a pooled revenue fund with the West of England Combined Authority to enable delivery of the Bus Service Improvement Plan.

Additional improvements as part of BSIP include the introduction of the new WESTlink on demand service. There are also plans to improve 18 bus^[9] routes across the district, including a number of new dedicated bus lanes.

Residents can comment on the new restrictions for Weston^[10] Village using the InConsult page: Weston Village parking restrictions engagement - North Somerset Council Consultations (inconsult.uk).

References

1. ^{^} Weston-super-Mare (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
2. ^{^} bus (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
3. ^{^} buses (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
4. ^{^} Drivers (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
5. ^{^} First Bus route revamp sees 'biggest change' in seaside town's network 'for years' (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
6. ^{^} Bus (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
7. ^{^} roads (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
8. ^{^} bus (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
9. ^{^} bus (www.somersetlive.co.uk)
10. ^{^} Weston (www.somersetlive.co.uk)