Eurotaxis Solo, Portishead - Service 695

As part of the development conditions of the old Portishead Harbour/Power Station area into the new residential development of Portishead Marina and Village Quarter, the developers involved had to provide funds to North somerset council for the provision of a new bus service that linked the area to Bristol. The new route would differ to the existing Portishead - Bristol bus services in that it would run via the M5 Avonmouth Bridge and The Portway into Bristol rather than follow the traditional route along the A369 as per First's 358 & 359. The tendered contract was won by Eurotaxis, (Westerleigh near Yate) and commenced in September 2004 as service 695. Eventually in 2008 the service was retendered and won by First who incorporated the 695 into their existing Bristol - Portishead routes as service 357. Crucially, this meant that the route followed the A369 from Portishead into Bristol and whilst the new 357/8/9 routes gave an improved 20 min headway (up from half hourly), it did mean that the connections from Portishead to Avonmouth and Shirehampton were lost. This view, taken in 2008 shortly before the 695 ceased to become the 357, sees Eurotaxis Optare Solo M850 MP51BUS leave Portishead heading through the new development towards Bristol. This vehicle was new to Perry, Bromyard (in which livery it still carries) in October 2001 and was acquired by Eurotaxis in October 2004 for service 695.