BOSSES of a York restaurant group say they are struggling to recruit new staff because of crippling parking charges.

Sharon Killin, operations manager with Russells Restaurants, in Stonegate and Coppergate, said they had noticed an "adverse effect", particularly on evening trade, because of the controversial new restrictions.

"Local people think twice about coming into town for a meal when they cannot without incurring considerable cost," she said.

"Not only does it affect trade but also staff recruitment. Members of staff have had parking fines and on two occasions we have been unable to recruit because people from out of town cannot park."

The Evening Press Stop The Highway Robbery campaign, calling for the scrapping of evening charges and unnecessary yellow lines, has won massive backing from residents, businesses, charities and visitors, with complaints about the charges continuing to pour in from readers.

James Taylor, of Nunthorpe Crescent, York, said: "If charges don't go down York will become a ghost town at night.

"This could even affect day trippers who would choose to go somewhere else for the day because they could stay for free after 6pm and have something to eat without paying extra later on."

Sarah Howat, of Towthorpe Road, said: "I have found the parking charges have restricted my lifestyle in

York. I am now more inclined to both shop and eat out of town. I go to St Michael-le-Belfrey Church, but finding money for my church collection and parking charges is costly when I am only a student.

"York is fast becoming a city that can only accommodate the rich while others are being pushed out."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said: "We've only lost 160 legal car parking spaces from the city centre.

"Restaurant staff can buy a Frequent User pass for £84-a-year which gives them unlimited parking in car parks.

"We're also looking to extend the pass on Sundays and to on-street use."

Why not scrap evening fees entirely?

LABOUR councillors have welcomed the suggestion that evening charges could be reduced to a flat rate fee.

The idea is being put forward as one of a number of options being looked at by City of York Council in response to on-going criticism about reckless new parking charges imposed by the ruling Liberal Democrats.

Coun Dave Merrett, Labour group leader, said: "The proposal to reduce evening charges to a possibly much smaller flat-rate fee is a welcome and significant step in the right direction - but we believe that many people will agree with us when we say these evening charges should not have been introduced at all.

"So we'd argue that the proposals that come forward should certainly also look at how these charges could be scrapped entirely."

Updated: 08:54 Thursday, August 05, 2004