A YORK group has unveiled fledgling plans to establish a waterway centre in the city.

The Bishop River Waterway Centre would provide a base for traditional crafts and rope making, training techniques and weekends.

It is the brainchild of a small group, headed by York man Tony Martin, who wants to see more done to improve the image of the water and water-based transport.

Mr Martin said the group had targeted a possible site in Bishopthorpe, but were waiting to see what happened with its sale before making further inquiries.

He told the Evening Press that the centre would be similar to a waterway base at Goole - but would not include a museum. "We held a meeting, which was well attended," he said. "There are really all sorts of things that we could do.

"There would be crafts, boat building, rope making. There would be training weekends. It would be built up slowly and gradually."

Mr Martin said there was untapped potential in using waterways for transport, and said ideas such as a Park&Sail and a service which ferried punters to Knavesmire during next year's Royal Ascot at York would be popular.

He said he was unhappy that waterways had not appeared in any form in the recently released local transport plan progress report.

Mr Martin said: "We think this is a great idea.

"The response so far has been tremendous. York is a difficult city and getting the balance right is a big problem.

"It is quite evident that more needs to be done for young people.

"You can't just entertain them with a skatepark. This could fill a gap."

Coun Ann Reid, the council's planning and transport chief, said the council was currently drawing up the next local transport plan and welcomed any suggestions on the future of York's waterways.

Updated: 10:07 Tuesday, October 12, 2004