DOUBLE yellow lines are set to be painted in dozens of new locations across York and in nearby villages and towns.

But City of York Council does not expect the same protests about the measures as it has experienced over new restrictions and charges recently introduced in the city centre.

The authority is now proposing to introduce "no waiting at any time" restrictions on a number of roads in Earswick, Fulford, Haxby, Heslington, Monks Cross in Huntington, Rawcliffe and Strensall. In York itself, such restrictions are proposed in at least 30 roads, while existing no waiting rules are set to be extended in another nine roads.

The move comes after a storm of controversy which has engulfed the council in recent weeks over the introduction of evening charges, higher daytime charges, and new double yellow lines and on-street parking charges in some city centre streets. However, the council denied today that the new restrictions had any connection with the other parking issues, but were merely a response to requests by local residents for new restrictions.

A spokeswoman said: "People come to us with traffic issues in their local area throughout the year.

"We compile all the viable requests into an annual review, which is then advertised to allow objectors to come forward.

"The council takes all the views into account when deciding whether to implement the changes."

The chairman of Haxby Town Council, Ken Holdsworth, said the restrictions proposed in Haxby, in Hall Rise, North Lane and Station Road, had all come about because of requests from local people.

For example, concern had been expressed by residents about the dangers created by cars parked by parents on roads near the entrance to a local primary school.

Updated: 10:47 Wednesday, May 26, 2004