PEOPLE could soon be enjoying evening trips into Bristol if plans to introduce a late bus service from Portishead get the green light. Portishead Town Council has written to North Somerset transport chiefs asking them to consider extending the current X25

PEOPLE could soon be enjoying evening trips into Bristol if plans to introduce a late bus service from Portishead get the green light.Portishead Town Council has written to North Somerset transport chiefs asking them to consider extending the current X25 service which runs between Weston-super-Mare and Clevedon to carry on to Portishead and up to Cribbs Causeway on Friday and Saturday nights.The service would then return at about 10.15pm, dropping off in Portishead before going back to Clevedon and Weston-super-Mare.The move to call for a later bus service on Friday and Saturday night followed complaints from young people who said it was difficult to go out into Bristol at night because there was no public transport.Portishead and North Weston Town Council has now written to North Somerset Council purseholders asking them to fund the extra £10,000 needed per year to extend the service.Portishead councillor Colin Howells, who has been in talks with North Somerset transport chiefs about the new route, said: "The young people in Portishead cannot afford to pay for taxis in and out of Bristol."This later bus service would allow them to access to many more leisure activities including bowling and the cinema or just to go shopping."Mr Howells added that any extension of the bus service was not just for the youngsters in the town, but also for the wider community.Cllr Howells added: "It would benefit people from Portishead who may want to go shopping at Cribbs Causeway."It would also mean people from Clevedon and from Weston-super-Mare would find it a lot easier to get on the bus and visit Portishead."I am very much hoping that North Somerset Council will add this extended service to its list of subsidised routes." The authority is currently reviewing its subsidised bus routes and will make a decision later in the year.* What do you think about the bus route? Write to us at Mailbox, North Somerset Times, 32 Waterloo Street, Weston-super-Mare, BS23 1LW.You can also email us at nstimes@archant.co.uk