Riverside café idea refloated (From York Press)

Riverside café idea refloated

7:28am Wednesday 7th March 2007 in News By Gavin Aitchison, gavin.aitchison@thepress.co.uk

INNOVATIVE plans to bring a floating café to York city centre are back on the agenda.

Businessman Andrew Gill has applied to City of York Council to launch the eco-friendly, fair-trade venture on the River Ouse behind Museum Gardens.

The boat café would serve ten riverbank tables with chairs, beside Dame Judi Dench Walk.

A similar application last year received strong backing from tourism bosses, but was thrown out by planning officers.

They feared the boat would be an obstacle to those using the river, could pose a flood risk, and would take up valuable mooring space.

Drawings submitted with the new application show that Mr Gill has now amended his plans, making the boat smaller than before.

He has also said he would not use the café when the river was a metre or more above normal level.

In a statement with his application, Mr Gill wrote: "The development will not noticeably impact on the city's transport system, because the café boat will be re-stocked outside the city centre.

"The café will arrive and depart on the river each day (7.30am and 6.30pm). Consequently this will not add to the city road congestion.

"The café will sell fair trade products, locally sourced wherever possible.

"Deliveries will be made outside the city using the local green courier network.

"Boat design incorporates solar electric and hot-water panels to produce clean, renewable energy.

"Waste will, wherever possible, be recycled and disposed of at the local environmental facilities."

Speaking on the earlier application, York Tourism Bureau chief executive Gillian Cruddas said: "We know the river is a huge attraction to visitors and we'd like to see more use of it.

"This sounds like a fantastic opportunity for visitors to experience the river in a new way, and something which is completely new and different for York.

"We would fully support this innovative initiative and hope that it goes on to be a great success."