SHOPKEEPERS have launched a poster campaign urging shoppers to lodge complaints over York's new parking charges with the councillors responsible.

The posters are headed "Paying too much in parking charges?" and encourage people to "talk to" council leader Steve Galloway and transport executive member Ann Reid.

Launched by traders' associations in Fossgate, Gillygate, and Goodgramgate, the posters feature the councillors' pictures and email addresses, along with the City of York Council telephone number.

The move comes as the Government's top transport adviser called today for parking charges in cities such as York to rise by £2 a day to get people out of cars.

But the recommendations from Professor David Begg, head of the Commission for Integrated Transport, received short shrift from David Cox, the chairman of Fossgate Traders' Association, who said they were "misguided" and failed to take into account the needs of consumers and businesses.

"He needs to get in touch with real life," he said.

Mr Cox said the poster campaign was a response to the large number of complaints by customers about higher parking charges and new restrictions.

Coun Reid said today that her details were already public knowledge, and anybody could email or phone her at any time. "My contact details are no secret," she said.

"Officers are reviewing parking, so it's far better if people contact the council with their suggestions and put their suggestions in writing to the parking section of City of York Council."

Coun Galloway said: "These things happen from time to time. It's perfectly legitimate for people to make representations about particular issues."

Meanwhile, the bereavement care group Cruse today said it had complained directly to the council over evening charges. Spokeswoman Jennie Cleary said it wrote to the authority last month, and received a reply.

She spoke out after Coun Reid was reported in yesterday's paper as saying that Cruse had not contacted the authority.

Updated: 10:22 Tuesday, July 06, 2004