MOTORISTS still angry at the doubling of Respark charges in York have put pen to paper in a petition to be presented tonight to council chiefs.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour's transport spokeswoman, was due to hand over hundreds of signatures at a planning and transport meeting.

The names, which have been collected from Respark areas across the city, are protesting at the Liberal Democrat's decision to increase the charges last year.

Respark allows residents to park in streets near their home, restricting visitors and tourists from leaving their cars there, but homeowners have to pay for the privilege.

The petition calls for the reinstatement of a policy which, Coun Simpson-Laing claims, states that residents' parking should not generate a surplus income for the council.

Coun Ann Reid, the council's planning and transport executive member, said the authority had shown "conclusively" that there was not any surplus income from Respark charges.

Coun Simpson-Laing said: "The Lib Dems explicitly deleted the council's promise not to make a profit out of Respark.

"They now claim they aren't making a profit - but if that is true then why delete the principle?

They have dreamed up an elaborate excuse about policing yellow lines, but our no-one else in the city pays directly for yellow line enforcement. Moreover the council additionally benefits from the Respark schemes which push commuters and visitors into the council car parks.

"I have the figures that show Respark was breaking even before the charges were doubled, and we won't be satisfied until the Lib Dems reinstate the 'no profit from Respark' principle. This issue is not going away."

Coun Reid said: "We have shown conclusively that we are not making a surplus from Respark charges.

"In fact, prior to the increases last year, the general council taxpayer was subsidising the Respark scheme.

"Despite answering this question on numerous occasions in full council and in other arenas, Labour clearly doesn't understand the way Respark is funded."

Updated: 10:38 Wednesday, May 04, 2005