A CITY centre hotel manager says York's evening parking charges have hit his business - and are a poor reward for almost £6 million of investment.

The Ramada Encore, which does not have its own car park, opened in Micklegate in 2002 when evening parking in car parks such as Nunnery Lane and on certain streets was free.

But evening charges and new on-street restrictions and fees were brought in by City of York Council earlier this year to help meet a budget shortfall.

Encore general manager Dale Needham says that, like other businesses in Micklegate, the hotel has suffered from evening charges and also high daytime charges.

"I find it quite insulting and counter-productive from an inward investment perspective that our company's investment of nearly £6 million has been rewarded with charges," he said.

The fees, combined with increased day charges, were deterring repeat business in an area that was in need of economic and environmental regeneration.

"I sympathise fully with other local businesses that are reliant on evening trade and face further loss of trade, due to the parking charge deterrent," he said.

He said the hotel competed with others that were able offer parking facilities, and made charges for it. "Many guests don't object if it is on the doorstep and the hotels set their own rates.

"We continue to be at the mercy of the council in setting city rates for daytime use, and for residents arriving after 7pm."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said various other hotels in the city centre, such as the Royal York and Moat House, charged guests to park, without any apparent difficulty.

She said guests "faced a trek" from the Encore to the nearest night-time car parks, such as Nunnery Lane, and added that daytime charges had not been raised significantly this year.

Council officers have been conducting a comprehensive review of parking charges over the summer, with a report outlining the options due to be published in the next few days.

Updated: 10:18 Wednesday, September 15, 2004