COUNCILLORS will consider thousands of objections to changes to York's parking provision when a petition is handed in to this month's full council meeting.

Businessman Graham Audus will hand over a petition - signed by more than 3,000 people - urging City of York Council to shelve moves to shed parking spaces in the city centre.

Mr Audus, who runs Supersave, in Fossgate, said councillors had now agreed to receive his petition before the meeting on July 15.

He hopes it will give an indication of the strength of feeling among York residents and businesses to the council's parking proposals.

In May, the Evening Press reported that more than 1,000 parking spaces were at risk in the city. The council wants to close some car parks as part of a strategy to reduce congestion.

In the next 18 months, spaces are set to be lost in Skeldergate, Heworth Green, Hungate and Peel Street.

Another 390 spaces are in doubt at the Kent Street car park, because it is part of the Barbican Centre redevelopment brief.

The news sparked outcry among Evening Press readers who, in a phone poll and Internet vote, argued that city centre spaces should not be cut in favour of Park&Ride.

A total of 1,037 people opposed the idea, with only 96 registering their approval to the council's scheme.

Mr Audus said: "The response has been tremendous. There have been so few people who don't agree with its aims. I believe the council is trying to push everyone out of the city."

City of York Council says it is not responsible for all the spaces being lost, but stresses its own car park closures are part of a strategy to cut congestion.

Assistant director of development and transport Bill Woolley said pressure was being applied to persuade motorists to use York's Park&Ride facilities.

He stressed that short-stay parking for shoppers was not being cut.

Updated: 11:19 Monday, July 01, 2002