Controversial plans to curb illegal mooring along Oxford's waterways are set to be scrapped.

Last March Oxford City Council drew up a draft public spaces protection order (PSPO) that proposed to ban people from mooring boats at riverbanks without the landowner's permission.

It would also have prohibited obstructing paths or waterways, putting up structures, leaving rubbish and failing to control dogs.

But, following a consultation, city council officers are to recommend to the local authority's executive board that the draft order should not go ahead in its current form.

Instead they have proposed a detailed review is undertaken to find out how the city's waterways are being used and how they could be developed.

This would include examining the possibility of increasing the number of temporary and permanent mooring spots, improving services for boaters and further promotion of the city as a tourist destination.

Alternative proposals will be drawn up designed to improve public safety and address anti-social behaviour in Castle Mill Stream, Aristotle Lane, Aston's Eyot and the south bank of the River Thames between Folly Bridge and the Southern By-pass.

Officers will look at each of the areas and come up with action plans before making recommendations to a meeting of the executive board in the spring.

Execuctive board member for community safety Dee Sinclair said: "We knew there was anti-social behaviour taking place across Oxford’s waterways, but before the engagement we did not have detailed knowledge of where this was taking place or the best way to tackle it.

“It has been hugely insightful and valuable to have detailed conversations with stakeholders, particularly those from the boating community, to get their views and experiences.

"We have listened to these insights and ideas, and we have made changes to our proposals to reflect them.

“This is how the City Council likes to work: we are told about a problem, we talk to those affected and, together, we find the right approach to address the situation.

“We will tackle the evidence of public safety issues and anti-social behaviour in other ways, and work with the police and other partners to tackle such behaviour where it occurs. The PSPO route is, we feel, too unwieldy to be appropriate.

“Finally, we would like to thank everyone who took part in the consultation process."