PROTESTS against York's parking charges escalated dramatically today as traders revealed they are planning "civil awkwardness" campaigns to cause maximum disruption to the city council.

Shopkeepers fed up of being "screwed" by the "Dick Turpin" authority say their campaign involves persuading businesses and residents to stop paying business rates and council tax by direct debit, and overwhelming the system with cheques, with certain details missing to make it difficult to process the payments.

A leaflet going out to hundreds of traders asks: "Can you imagine what will happen if 10,000 or more cheques start arriving monthly at council offices? The cost of processing them and the financial loss to the council on banking the backlog will be more money than they are raising with the parking charges."

Meanwhile, York's Hospitality Association has launched a separate, stinging attack on evening charges, branding them the "sort of poll tax issue that tarnishes the entire image of administrations".

The association, which represents 140 restaurants, guesthouses, cafes, hotels and tourist attractions, claims in its newsletter that the "hastily-imposed and unpopular" fees and new yellow lines are deterring people from using the city centre at night and are putting staff at risk by forcing them to walk further late at night.

"The system needs to be radically changed or abolished before it does any more damage."

The protests follow news that a mass lobby against new charges and yellow lines is to be staged by York Trades Union Council during a council meeting next month.

It has also emerged that the city council's cross-party economic development and community safety scrutiny board is unanimously urging the authority to review the impact of charges on the evening economy.

The leaflet being distributed around York - headed: "Dick Turpin is alive! And working for City of York Council. Don't help him to rob you!" - claims customer numbers are falling because visitors feel they are being stung so much by charges.

It claims that while York charges £9.50 for a six-hour stay, another historic northern city, Chester, charges only £3.50, and it calls for York's fee to be reduced to £5. It also says Park&Ride services should be cheaper to encourage families and larger groups.

One of the leaflet's authors, David Cox, of Miniature Scene, Fossgate, said the campaigns would be "civil awkwardness", disruptive but legal, designed to ensure the council took notice and action.

He said "We are not just cross or upset, but angry. We have had enough."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said today that the "civil awkwardness" campaign could simply end up costing the authority time and money, meaning that even more revenue would have to be raised by the authority next year.

Updated: 10:11 Friday, June 25, 2004