CAMPAIGNERS have staged a demonstration against controversial plans by a motor yacht club to buy a section of York's riverbank to create extra moorings.

Protesters gathered with banners at the Millennium Bridge today to send out a message of opposition to the York Motor Yacht Club's proposals for the riverside downstream of the bridge.

City of York Council indicated last week that leasing the land to the club was 'not something it was looking to take forward' and planning permission for the changes was also highly unlikely because of the impact on public space and visual amenity.

Green councillor Andy D’Agorne, who has said the scheme would lead to the removal of willows and natural vegetation along the waters edge and block off access to an area of river bank used by walkers and dog owners, said the demonstration went ahead to make clear the scale of opposition to the plans.

The club has said it wanted to create 14 additional moorings to help tackle a waiting list of members.

It has also said there was no designated riverside footpath along the stretch, which was of limited recreational value, and a tree survey had noted that the majority of trees were in poor condition and not expected to be sustainable