A SIMMERING car park row took a new twist after council staff ripped out controversial restriction signs at a York supermarket.

Businesses and residents in Acomb who complained the new two-hour limit at Morrisons would cause chaos for shoppers breathed a sigh of relief as the signs were removed.

Guildhall officials said they were forced to swoop yesterday after the supermarket ignored a demand to get rid of the restriction warnings in the busy car park, co-owned by the council.

A Guildhall spokeswoman said the grocer was given 14 days and did not respond to a council enforcement letter.

But Morrisons said it asked the council for a meeting to solve the dispute, but got no response.

Despite the signs disappearing, the supermarket stand-off today looked set to continue.

A Morrisons spokesman confirmed the store wanted urgent talks with the council in a bid to keep the controversial restrictions it claims would free up space for customers.

Short stay signs appeared last month when the former Safeway store re-opened after a refurbishment.

City of York Council launched an investigation after shoppers complained. They thought they could park in the site free and without restrictions.

But the new two-hour signs said the store was reserved for store customers and patrons of Acomb Working Men's Club, which owns a section of the car park. Morrisons also owns part of the site and the three parties jointly manage the car park.

The council said the supermarket jumped the gun and had not consulted properly on the changes.

And traders and shoppers - who complained there was nowhere else in Acomb for staff and customers to park - today backed the council's action.

Eric Walton, co-partner at Acomb Travel, said the removal was "good news". He said: "It will ease parking problems on Front Street because some of our clients were finding it difficult to park."

A Morrisons spokesman said: "Morrisons are applying short term control in the Acomb store car park in accordance with our agreement with the local council.

"We contacted the council on July 4 with an offer to discuss the ongoing situation regarding the Acomb store car park, but as yet we have received no response."

Peter Evely, head of network management at the council, said: "Morrisons had a responsibility to liaise with both the council and the Working Men's Club before making any changes to the car park.

"We would like to work with them on this but, given that they failed to accept that it is a joint decision between the three land owners as to how the car park is managed, we had no alternative but to take action, not least because we have had so many calls from members of the public about this issue."

Updated: 10:49 Wednesday, July 13, 2005