Preston City Council has abandoned plans to build a controversial barrage across the River Ribble.

Council leader Coun Ken Hudson has revealed that the plan, under the Riversway scheme, has been shelved in favour of concentrating on improving Preston docklands and canal links into the city.

He said: "We have decided to leave the riverside part of the Riversway project to South Ribble.

"The council in South Ribble obviously has a vision for the River Ribble and we want to now concentrate our funds on improving the docks, which is already ongoing, and the canalside.

"There is work at the canal to remove the blue and green algae and that will continue."

The council has employed British Waterways to carry out a feasibility study on the canal in the spring, with the results set to be made public in early 2009.

Coun Hudson says that the council's plan for the canal is to bring the Lancaster Canal into the city at the back of the University of Central Lancashire, making it not only a venue for university watersports but also allowing a new eco-friendly transport system to be launched.

He said: "We could look at having park and boat ride schemes from Tom Benson Way into the city centre which would be part of our commitment to the environment.

"It is an eco-friendly alternative to traditional forms of transport and it is something that will enhance Preston's green credentials."