YORK City chairman John Batchelor says his proposed new stadium at Clifton Moor could provide an ideal opportunity for a new York Park & Ride scheme.

He thinks such a service could prove a real boon to staff and patients facing increasing difficulties parking at York District Hospital.

Mr Batchelor said he would provide a car park for fans if he won the go-ahead to build the stadium on land near Ikon and Diva nightclubs.

But the car park could also be used as a base for a Clifton Moor Park & Ride on the other six days of the week, with buses stopping off at the hospital on their way into the city centre.

On match days, fans could also use the service in reverse to get out to the stadium from the city centre, reducing car congestion in the area.

City of York Council wants to open more Park & Ride schemes in a bid to reduce car congestion in the city centre, and one is being considered at Clifton Moor in the long-term as part of a comprehensive development package.

But Roy Templeman, director of environment and development services, said today it was "jumping ahead two stages" to talk about a Park & Ride on the stadium site.

While Park & Ride would provide added value to a stadium development, two major issues would still have to be overcome before it could be allowed there: transport problems in the area and the site's location within York's Green Belt.

He said he hoped to discuss such issues at a meeting today with Mr Batchelor.

Peter Edwards, First in York commercial manager, said he would be interested in finding out more about Mr Batchelor's Park & Ride proposals.

Updated: 15:38 Tuesday, July 30, 2002