MOTORISTS who only want to use the new Park&Ride car park at Monks Cross, York, without using the bus will have to pay more than users of the public transport service.

Drivers will be charged £5 to leave their vehicle, civic leaders have decided, while passengers using the Park&Ride service to get to the city centre will pay only £3.

Councillors feared that out-of-town shoppers and workers at nearby offices might use the car park, leaving no space for those wanting to use the Park&Ride.

They have decided to levy a flat fee of £5 for any length of time until the car park closes at 9pm on all those who use the area for parking only.

Andrew Waller, executive member for environment and sustainability, said it would have been "ridiculous" to set a charge that was higher than parking in the city centre.

He said: "It is possible to park in the city centre for £8.50 a day, and to have made the charge higher would have defied all logic in terms of traffic management and pollution control."

Officers had suggested a £30 parking fee for parkers who did not use the bus service from the Huntington site, which is expected to open on Sunday, July 11.

Coun Waller said it was hoped the charge would encourage car sharing while council officers looked at ways of introducing a discount for users of small, "greener" cars.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, June 16, 2004