CITY OF YORK Council leader Steve Galloway is to debate the authority's controversial parking charge policy with some of its fiercest opponents.

Coun Galloway has agreed to attend a public meeting at 7pm on Thursday at York Railway Institute in Queen Street - provided an "independent" chairman is found.

Organisers say he will be given an opportunity to explain why the charges were brought in, before the meeting is thrown open to the floor for the public to ask questions and express their views.

Bryan Anderson, of the TUC, said that individuals and organisations with concerns about parking were being invited to attend, so that all views could be gathered and a united stance agreed.

A number of traders who strongly oppose evening and on-street charges, high daytime fees and new yellow lines are known to be planning to go along to challenge Coun Galloway.

They will explain how much damage they believe is being caused to their businesses.

The meeting is being organised by the York Trades Union Council, which is also staging a lobby of councillors the following Thursday evening at the Guildhall before a full council meeting.

Mr Anderson said Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, had been invited to attend the public meeting, but she had replied saying there was a potential clash with a planning committee meeting.

She told the TUC it would be best if Coun Galloway took her place on the platform.

"Given that the decisions made on parking charges relate to the whole budget situation of the council, he is better placed than me to outline the underlying difficulties that we face as an authority," she said, adding that she still planned to attend.

Plans by Micklegate traders to stage a march through York against the charges have been abandoned because of insurance and other difficulties.

Updated: 08:45 Saturday, July 17, 2004