Off the menu

Mr Benson-Smith, who is chef director of award-winning Hazlewood Castle, near Tadcaster, told the Evening Press he had been looking for the last two to three years at opening a second restaurant in York.

"I had been in two minds .... until now," he said.

"But with the parking charges, I wouldn't dream of it."

He claims the new evening fees, coming on top of high rents and rates, had been the "final nail in the coffin" for York.

He says he may now site his second restaurant in a more car-friendly city, such as Pontefract or Wakefield.

Mr Benson-Smith, who was the 1999 Northern Chef of the Year and a former regular judge on BBC television's Masterchef programme, also spoke of his concerns about the long-term damage that may be caused by charges to city centre businesses generally.

"The knock-on effect of the parking charges will be long-term and will end in tears, unfortunately, for those small businesses that can't afford it."

He said that for people going out to spend £30 in a restaurant, the bill had suddenly jumped to £35, and out-of-town locations had an increasing attraction for businesses looking for somewhere to locate.

He said a "bloke on a horse with a mask and pistols" had been hanged a few years ago, but City of York Council was getting away with its highway robbery.

"Can I suggest you charge people to breathe in York?", he said.

Coun Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said evening charges applied in many cities.

"Potential new businesses must make their decisions on a wide variety of factors, not just parking charges," she said.

"We did suggest an 'evening out' package, which would have seen businesses working on conjunction with the council, but this was not popular."

She said that the council spent £1 million a year on economic development and inward investment and would be happy to hear any suggestions as to how that money might be better targeted.

Updated: 08:40 Thursday, September 09, 2004