THE much-maligned new parking restrictions around York could now affect York City Knights fans on match-days.

City of York Council has put double yellow lines all the way down Jockey Lane between Monks Cross and Huntington, which runs adjacent to the Knights' home ground of Huntington Stadium.

That road is usually used by Knights fans to park on match-days - cars always line that road shortly before kick-off - as there is a short walk from there to a turnstile at the terraced Popular Stand.

But with that option now taken away, and with the stadium car park usually packed on match-days, fans could struggle to get parked for games - with a possible knock-on effect on attendances.

However, the club are in discussions with First York bus company about using the new Park and Ride car park at Monks Cross for possible match-day parking - though the Press believes that the council, as owners of the site, would have to give any agreement the thumbs up.

A council spokeswoman explained the new yellow lines were put down to assist access for emergency services - albeit 15 years after the stadium was opened. The council, though, offered no alternatives for parking.

She said: "Obstruction of the highways around the Monks Cross area has been an increasingly common problem, including in the vicinity of Huntington Stadium.

"Over the course of the past months it has become apparent that this

obstruction is affecting the ability of the emergency services and public

transport to operate and hence formal restrictions have been introduced to

speed up the process of keeping the highway clear."

Fans have always been warned off parking in the nearby Monks Cross shopping area, and the only other option now appears to be the new Park and Ride area next to the stadium car park.

That site is owned by the council but operated by First York. The bus company already sponsor the Knights with free match-day buses from the city centre, and commercial manager Peter Edwards said: "We're in discussions with the Knights to come to some arrangement."

A spokeswoman for the rugby club made no comment about the double yellow lines but confirmed they were in discussions with First York about use of the Park and Ride facility.

Updated: 10:07 Saturday, November 27, 2004