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Last month North Somerset Council was informed that Transpora Bus, the company which was contracted to operate the X10 service, had suspended operations without notice. The Big Lemon stepped in temporarily to continue the X10 route until the end of August. During this time, the council worked with the West of England Combined Authority to secure additional funds from the Bus Service Improvement Plan to put the service out to tender. The Big Lemon have been awarded the tender and will continue to run the service beyond the end of August.
From Sunday 1 September, the X10 route will be reinstated beyond Clevedon Triangle to Clevedon Tesco Roundabout in both directions, serving Southern Way again and the Curzon Cinema. The timetable will also be amended to have a morning and afternoon journey timed specifically for students travelling to South Gloucestershire and Stroud College’s Filton Campus.
Cllr Hannah Young, Executive Member for Highways and Transport at North Somerset Council, said: “We’re so pleased to announce that the Big Lemon are taking over the X10 for the long-term, and thank them again for stepping in at short notice to ensure that the service continued through the summer. It’s great news that the X10 route has been reinstated in Clevedon to serve more of the community and the timetable amended to provide students with a simple and timely way to get to college in Filton as well as continuing on to Southmead Hospital.
“There is no doubt that we’ve only been able to continue to secure the X10 service because of its popularity following the determined response of communities in Portishead and Clevedon to the call last year to ‘use it or lose it’. We hope this will renew passengers’ confidence in the X10 and encourage other residents to try out and support the improved travel links.”
Tom Druitt, The Big Lemon CEO, said: “It’s been a real pleasure running the X10 service for the last few weeks and we’re all delighted to be confirmed as the operator for this route going forward. Our regular drivers are being spoilt by our passengers, and we’d like to thank them for all their kindness. We’d also like to thank North Somerset Council for their support and look forward to working with them to deliver improvements to the service going forward.”
Cllr Mike Johnston, Portishead Town Council, said: “I am delighted to hear that The Big Lemon are taking on the service for the foreseeable future.”
“The service improvements are most welcome and I understand that the Southmead extension is proving popular. Long may it continue as a vital link with Portishead and Clevedon, so too the timetabling of Filton College into appropriate service timings and provision.”
For local route information and timetables, visit www.travelwest.info. The new X10 timetable will be live soon.