Members of City of York Council's Executive Members for City Strategy and Advisory Panel (EMAP) will consider proposals to ensure that York remains one of the best cities for coaches to visit at a meeting next month (8 September).

The council's Transport Planning team carried out a review of the city's 2003 coach strategy, prompted by the likely closure of Kent St Coach Park in the late summer. Coach operators, coach drivers, council officers and councillors were all consulted as part of the process.

The review highlighted two key issues: that coach drivers prefer a city centre location for a coach park, compared to out of town options; and that York is one of only a small number of cities that still prohibits coaches from using bus lanes.

Following the results of the review, members will be asked to consider plans to allow the city's main coach park to be at St George's Field in the short to medium term. Coach parking at St George's field already takes place during the St Nicholas Fayre, when it is used as an overflow park.

If agreed, the council's Transport Planning team will monitor the use of St George's Field to establish whether the site would be suitable as a coach park in the long term.

Members will also be asked to consider carrying out an investigation into the feasibility of the use of bus lanes by coaches. Allowing coaches to use some or all of the lanes would support York's case for becoming a designated 'coach friendly city', but could have an impact on the schedules of service buses.