MOTORISTS have given the thumbs up to new slashed charges for evening parking at council-run car parks across York.

Residents can now pay as little as £1 to park for an entire evening in the city centre, while visitors must pay £2 under new charges that came into affect last night.

City of York Council leaders brought in the lower flat-rate charge as a concession to residents who complained that the extra cost made a night out in the city too expensive.

Businesses leaders, voluntary organisers and theatre bosses said they had also been hit by the massive parking charge hike earlier this year.

Sally Jackson, 34, of South Bank, thanked the Evening Press for putting pressure on the council with the Stop The Highway Robbery campaign.

She said the higher charges had forced her to park in streets near Nunnery Lane, which she feared might put her in danger as she walked across the city.

"It's good news that they have made it cheaper," she said.

"It must have put people off coming into the city.

I would often go and meet friends somewhere else instead because of the charges."

Business managers hope the lower fees, coupled with the new later Park & Ride service and Thursday's Christmas light switch on, will help revitalise the late-night economy.

It now costs £1 for residents with a Minster badge and £2 for visitors to park from 6pm onwards in any of the city centre car parks.

Residents can apply for the free badge at the City of York Council offices at St Leonard's Place. More than 400 applications have been made in the past week.

Sarah Littlewood, of North Duffield, said the extra charges could make a trip to the theatre or for a meal out too expensive and that discouraged people from coming to York.

Pensioner Jean White, of Wheldrake, said: "It's absolutely ridiculous. People that live out in the countryside just can't afford to come in.

"It was encouraging people to drink and drive because there was nowhere to leave a car overnight without paying a fortune."

Paul Jackson and Abbey Evans, of Acomb, said that old charges were "too high". Paul said: "It's about time they brought them down, but I think it should be free."

The Evening Press told City of York Council to Stop The Highway Robbery amid a storm of controversy over the new charges.

Councillors agreed to slash many charges in September after agreeing that a "significant minority" of residents had been affected and that the high prices were affecting the city's economy.

Updated: 10:18 Tuesday, November 23, 2004