COUNCIL chiefs have spoken of their hopes to bring a "park-and- float" scheme to York.

Executive members of City of York Council discussed new ways of transforming York, including vital improvements to the city's transport and education services.

Leader of the council, Coun Steve Galloway, said a Park and Float scheme could enable visitors to park at allocated sites outside the city centre and travel in by boat.

Coun Galloway, chairing the meeting, said the existing Park & Ride site at Rawcliffe could be earmarked as a potential base for the initiative.

He said: "There are a few problems with the site, but if they could be overcome it could make quite a pleasant trip down the river. Cruise operators could perhaps provide a half-hourly service into the city."

Councillors also discussed the possibility of a park-and-rail scheme, which could become a reality within four years.

Shoppers would park at stations outside York and travel into the city centre by train.

Poppleton has been put forward for a potential site, but the idea is still in its early stages.

Members also studied a new report named Transforming York - Building On Success, which suggested the implementation of a transformation programme to enable the council to improve itself and its services.

Members will now decide what immediate and long term action should be taken to improve the council.

Coun Galloway said after the meeting: "I am very pleased with the way the executive received the report on transforming York. All members of the executive are fully committed to achieving excellent standards of service for York residents and the report provides us with the framework for doing that."

Updated: 08:45 Thursday, June 19, 2003