IT boasts one of York’s most famous views, is a familiar sight from postcards and guidebooks - and it’s the worst place in the city for getting a parking ticket.

Figures obtained under the Freedom of Information Act have revealed 363 drivers received fines after parking in Duncombe Place, in the shadow of York Minster, during 2012/13, more than any other street in the city.

The penalties handed out there accounted for £12,754 of the total income – £414,268 – City of York Council received from parking tickets last year. During 2012/13, 14,010 tickets were handed out in York, including at car parks.

David Brooks, general manager of the Dean Court Hotel on Duncombe Place, said vans and other large vehicles often parked in front of its restaurant windows, which he said “denies our guests one of the best views in York”.

He said: “If the number of tickets is higher than anywhere else, it must be an attractive place to park.

“A lot of people don’t think much of spending £30 on a bottle of wine, so they might not think much of paying a fine to park in the centre of York. However, plenty of guests tell us they are not completely clear on whether they can or cannot park in Duncombe Place.”

The council said all but three of the tickets issued on Duncombe Place last year were for parking on yellow lines, with the others being for parking on its taxi rank.

North Street saw the second-highest number of tickets in 2012/13 – 316, leading to £10,826 in fines – while total parking income for last year fell from the 2011/12 level of £465,902.

Almost three-quarters of income from parking fines is reinvested in roads maintenance, while 20 per cent goes on subsidised bus services and the rest to Dial & Ride and Shopmobility schemes, taxi cards and concessionary tokens.

Coun Dave Merrett, cabinet member for transport, planning and sustainability, said: “We are legally bound in the way we spend our parking revenues.”

“As part of our i-Travel scheme to promote the use of sustainable transport in the city, we encourage the use of buses, trains and bikes as far as possible to minimise congestion and emissions in the city centre. For those who need to drive in, we urge drivers to check parking restrictions to avoid obstruction or penalties.”