A £15,000 scheme to extend a residents' parking scheme into York streets plagued by commuter traffic is set to get the go-ahead.

City of York Council officers balloted residents in the Scarcroft Hill and Thorpe Street areas to see if they wanted their roads protected from people using them as a "free car park".

A council report to next week's planning and transport sub-committee meeting will ask councillors to advertise new ResPark schemes for Scarcroft Hill, Wentworth Road, Telford Terrace, Albemarle Road, Thorpe Street, Millfield Road, Nunthorpe Avenue and Scarcroft Road.

The ballot of residents in both areas revealed a small majority were happy with the ResPark idea, which will aim to stop vehicles parking up and using the streets as a "transfer station" - with one vehicle then carrying motorists to their destination.

Approximately 285 parking bays will be made available for residents' cars under a proposed scheme to be rubber stamped by councillors, while waiting restrictions will also be enforced.

It will also be proposed that residents in St James Mount be asked whether they would also like to join a ResPark scheme.

The combined cost of both schemes will be met from the authority's residents parking budget. Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said extra cash that been made available were allowing schemes such as this to take place.

"We clearly have responded to the requests for ResPark to be introduced in these areas," she said. "Extra money that has now become available has allowed us to progress these requests more quickly than previously.

"I am delighted if residents are happy and support the schemes which they have been consulted on."

The ResPark scheme should also help residents who find their streets filled with cars during meetings at York Racecourse.

During the trial of a new traffic management scheme for Royal Ascot at York, held during the Ebor Festival in August, traffic cones were used to stop vehicles parking on Scarcroft Road.

Councillors will be asked to notify residents of the ballot results and advertise the traffic regulation orders needed to introduce a ResPark scheme on December 2.

Updated: 10:07 Thursday, November 25, 2004