A CARE group that helps people come to terms with bereavements today backed our campaign to axe York's new parking charges.

Cruse Bereavement Care says evening fees are stopping people attending special sessions in the city dealing with suicides.

The support group - believed to be the only group of its kind in the region offering such specialist help - meets monthly in Friargate, York.

Vulnerable visitors travel miles seeking advice and support from those in the same situation, and often use the nearby Castle area to park.

But volunteer counsellor Jennie Cleary said some expressed shock when they discovered City of York Council had started charging £1.30 an hour in the evening.

Mrs Cleary, of Earswick, said: "I don't think the council have thought about groups like us.

"We provide a service that's a great help to people. Should it only be available to those who can afford parking fees?

"It just makes life more difficult for people whose lives are quite difficult enough anyway."

She added: "We have people coming from out of town - there's no group like this in the area, so parking is necessary.

"They come from the East Coast, Bradford, Wakefield and Newcastle. There are normally about ten, but the numbers go up and down.

"The new charges add an extra £3 to the evening. Some people have started parking out of town and walking in."

Mrs Cleary said fewer visitors than usual attended the last meeting, held after parking charges were imposed.

She could not say whether charges were directly responsible, but believes they have "deterred and prohibited" people attending.

Volunteers like her are also paying more to park, with tight charity funds used to meet the new tariffs.

The comments from Cruse come days after York Samaritans hit out at new restrictions, which have provoked uproar.

The charity, which listens around the clock to people in distress, said it was diverting thousands of pounds from volunteer recruitment advertising to pay the fees.

Councillor Ann Reid, executive member for transport, said Cruse had not contacted the council with any parking complaints.

She said: "We have said all along that we want to hear from people about their concerns.

"I can't comment on this individual case, but they want to make their views known so we can consider them with the forthcoming review."

Updated: 10:38 Monday, July 05, 2004