AN "OVERWHELMING" number of York motorists want the city's controversial new evening parking charges scrapped, according to councillors behind a new survey.

City of York Council's Labour Group today said it received several hundred responses to its parking survey - and 89 per cent were in favour of shelving the new fees.

Labour also said that in a separate, smaller survey of city businesses, 93 per cent of those quizzed believed new on-street parking meters near their shops were hitting trade.

Labour leader Coun Dave Merrett and shadow transport executive member Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing have sent the results to council leader Steve Galloway and his transport chief, Ann Reid, as a contribution to the current Liberal Democrat review of parking charges.

Coun Galloway recently revealed he was considering changes to city parking policies. Submissions or suggestions were due at the Guildhall by a deadline set for today.

Coun Simpson-Laing said responses to the survey had been overwhelmingly in favour of scrapping evening charges.

She said: "We got a very strong response to our survey.

"A lot of people are taking the time to register their views on this issue - and it is only right that everyone who has made the effort should be listened to."

She said comments received in the survey included people saying they had stopped coming into York at night, and that their friends had stopped visiting York.

New parking charges and restrictions were introduced earlier this year and were greeted with mass protests from residents, shopkeepers, societies and voluntary organisations.

The Evening Press launched a campaign - Stop The Highway Robbery - to have them scrapped.

But the Liberal Democrats say the extra income from parking is essential and is preventing the cutting back of front-line public services. They blame a lack of funding from the Government.

Coun Reid said today: "I have responded to Coun Simpson-Laing and asked her for more information. I have asked to see what questions they asked, and how many forms were distributed with the percentage that were returned.

"I have also asked that the forms be made available to council officers in case there are any issues that need to be pursued as part of the parking review."

Results of the parking review are due to go before the council executive on September 28, which will decide what changes, if any, should be made.

Updated: 10:54 Friday, August 13, 2004