PARKING fines in York are to be restructured, leading to increased revenue for city chiefs.

The current £60 fine is to be replaced by a two-tier structure, with fines of £50 or £70 depending on the offence.

City of York Council's ruling executive has agreed to the change, which has been prompted by Government legislation.

As a result of the new system, the council's revenue from fines will increase by 2.3 per cent - or about £15,000.

The latest part of the Traffic Management Act is being rolled out nationwide, making a range of changes to parking law. All councils have been told to introduce two-tier fine systems, to reflect the difference between minor indiscretions such as staying slightly too long in a car park and major ones such as parking in a bus stop.

As revealed in The Press earlier this month, York councillors were asked to choose between fines of £40 and £60 or £50 and £70. They have now opted for the latter. As at present, all fines will be halved if paid within 14 days.

Ann Reid, the council's executive member for transport issues said: "We have to do this. There is no option. We just have the decision to make about which charge to set. Since we have had the choice, we have always gone for the upper band."

She said the lower band would mean fines could be as low as £20, and said some people may feel some offences were worth that.

Coun Christian Vassie accused the Government of burdening councils with more responsibilities and new legislation.

He said the changes could lead to anxiety among motorists, and added: "This has all been dumped on us from on high and it is all, I suspect, going to cause our officers extra work."

Damon Copperthwaite, the council's assistant director for city development and transport, said: "We are recommending the higher level because it will encourage better compliance with the parking regulations and secondly, it will continue to mean that the parking service is self-financing, which it currently is."

He said the council was looking to produce some information to send out to the public, advising why different charges would apply in different cases.