NEW restrictions on the use of a busy York car park have sparked a furious row between shop owners and neighbouring businesses.

People living and working in Acomb were shocked to discover that a car park they believed was free and unrestricted was suddenly the subject of restrictions.

City of York Council is now investigating the complaints about Morrisons after the store erected signs warning motorists that its car park had a two-hour limit and was reserved for store customers and patrons of Acomb Working Men's Club, which owns a section of the car park.

The signs appeared last Thursday when the former Safeway store was reopened following a refurbishment.

Local businesses were now complaining that there is nowhere in Acomb for their staff and customers to park - not even an alternative paid-for car park.

Glynnis Knaggs, 53, of St Stephen's Road, Acomb, said: "I have lived in Acomb all my life and all that time this car park has been free to stay all day.

"I can walk to work, but a lot of people can't and they come in to York from outside to shop in Acomb knowing parking there is free."

Margaret Barkway, co-owner of Jasmine beauty salon, said: "There's no parking for anyone in Acomb and that's a major problem. It's going to cause chaos on the street. I think people will go elsewhere."

Sam Walton, a partner in Acomb Travel, said she was late to work on Thursday because she could not find anywhere to park.

She said: "I've got a business to run and our customers rely on the parking as well. There are usually a few spaces outside our business but it's been so busy because people can't use the car park."

Resident Ray Ledward, 77, of Melwood Grove, said: "I've lived in Acomb for 50 years and it's always been known as a free car park.

"I'm sure people will just go to Tesco or Asda instead."

Diane Carter, 51, of Beckfield Lane, said: "It's happened so suddenly. It just makes life so difficult." However, Frank Healy, secretary of Acomb Working Men's Club, said people had abused the car parking facilities for many years, meaning club members were sometimes unable to park.

He said: "With all due respect I think that two hours is quite adequate. We don't want confrontation with anyone but our members must have a right to park on land that they partly own.

"We don't mind people using the car park, and I'm sure Morrisons are the same, but not for eight, nine or ten hours."

A Morrisons spokeswoman said: "Our customers often tell us that they are unable to park in the car park, therefore we have introduced restrictions to ensure enough spaces for customers. We hope that this will resolve the issue."

Updated: 09:08 Monday, June 13, 2005