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As part of North Somerset Council's Bus Service Improvement Plan, the new service will run six days a week from Monday to Saturday and will also stop near Yatton railway station. This will provide better opportunities for passengers to make longer journeys by linking bus and rail travel, meaning public transport in the area becomes faster and more coordinated.
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, and those who want to use the station, with a reliable and regular bus service.
"This new service, coupled with the extension of the government's £2 fare offer and the local offer of free bus travel in your birthday month across the West of England area, makes the bus an attractive and cheap alternative to the car - especially useful during the current economic climate."
Anyone who's travelled through Yatton will know that the main High Street can often become congested, slowing journey times and affecting the air quality in the village. So that traffic flow can be improved, North Somerset Council is also planning to install new daytime parking restrictions along the road.
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 on Yatton High Street will be implemented on an experimental basis and their performance will be monitored before a decision is made whether to remove them or for them to be made permanent. This approach is called an 'Experimental Traffic Regulation Order' and the public will have a six month period to formally object to the new restrictions should they wish to. During this period the council can make adjustments to the restrictions and then they must be either removed or made permanent (following consideration of any objections) 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 is expected to be carried out during the week beginning Monday 28 August and finished before the bus service calls at the village the following week.
The restrictions are designed to improve air quality by reducing traffic queues and also improve bus journey times and reliability.
Cllr Steve Bridger, local ward member for Yatton, said: "The popularity of the on-demand WESTlink run to and from Clevedon has again demonstrated the need for a scheduled bus service through the village. I'm pleased the council has agreed to start with minimum experimental parking restrictions and excluded Saturdays. To deliver a reliable timetable every lost minute counts, but we also need to balance the parking needs of residents.
"It's also good to see that the council has heard local concerns and that more time will be given to consultation and testing changes before they become permanent."
Cllr Wendy Griggs, also a ward councillor for Yatton, said: "I welcome the X5 reconnecting the whole of Yatton enabling all residents to access schools, shops, the train station and other amenities."
Cllr Chris Jackson, Chairman of Yatton Parish Council, added: "I am very pleased to see that Yatton is to get an element of its bus service reinstated. It is beyond belief that a community as large as this has been without a regular timetabled service for so long; let us 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 will soon see buses running through Claverham too."
Work is expected to be carried out during the week beginning Monday 28 August and finished before the bus service calls at the village the following week.