PARTYGOERS could be flocking to York's waterways for a special "rivers festival" under new proposals set to go before city leisure chiefs.

The latest City of York Council leisure scrutiny board report suggests the council looks for ways to encourage people to use York rivers and riverbanks, with the festival one suggestion.

It also recommends a formal "rivers partnership" is set up, including the council, the Environment Agency, the British Waterways Board, and others.

Senior scrutiny officer Helen Christmas said in the report: "This partnership would not only provide a focal point for championing the rivers, but would also help to attract much-needed funding to the area."

Scrutiny board member Coun Brian Watson has called for public access and leisure facilities available on York's rivers to be improved.

He said: "I am quite pleased with the report and would like to see the leisure side of things concentrated on, as the rivers here don't get enough use.

"Commercially they have a bit of use, but I am more interested in getting them used for leisure purposes so York's communities can enjoy them."

Other leisure-based improvements the report suggests include basic maintenance work, such as signs, bins, lighting and benches for riverside paths.

It also recommends work to improve facilities for boaters coming into York, an updated guide to river walks in the city and that new walkways or cycle routes are opened up.

The council's executive member for leisure and heritage, Coun Keith Orrell, said he was keen to implement many of the proposals.

Work would start with a big litter and graffiti clean-up, he said, followed by providing better information on the riverbanks and the council's website.

Coun Orrell said: "Partly because of recent flooding there is a negative perception about our rivers. I think we can achieve many positive outcomes to turn the rivers into a real attraction. One way of achieving this is through a

rivers festival.

"We can only achieve our objective of getting the most from our rivers for

local residents and visitors by working in partnership with others.

"Our partners should go beyond the big players such as the Environment Agency and the British Waterways Board to local groups interested in enhancing the use of our rivers. I think the council can act as a catalyst for all interested organisations."

Updated: 09:11 Tuesday, June 10, 2003