FURIOUS York traders have threatened to boycott their business rates if City of York Council does not take action to save their businesses.

Shopkeepers in Goodramgate and Lord Mayor's Walk say sales figures have dwindled dramatically since late-night car parking charges were introduced in March - and many traders say they are now just counting down the months before they have to close their books for good.

Simon Evans, proprietor of The Canopy, an international furniture and gift shop, said sales were down by 80 per cent on a normal week.

"This week has been appalling," he said. "It's like the worst week in the worst winter you can imagine.

"It's all right for the council to say the tourist figures are the same, but that's absolute rubbish.

"If you want to know how many bullets are going over the top of the trenches you ask the soldiers in them."

Mr Evans suggested to other traders that their business rates be paid into a joint account until the charges were slashed. They would then be paid to the council.

"It would force the council to change their minds," he said.

"They're trying to get money to balance their books at the expense of small businesses and residents and we can't afford it."

Christopher Shortle, who owns Mary Shortle, a specialist doll and teddy shop in Lord Mayor's Walk, supported Mr Evans.

He said his till was the emptiest it had been in 26 years.

He said: "It's abysmal. Before the new charges came into force, I'd only had one day of nil takings since I opened - now I've had seven. York is sinking."

Rosie Wilson, who runs The Chocolate Store, in Goodramgate, said customers seemed to "rush off" before their parking tickets expired.

Some traders have considered a scheme to refund customers their parking fee when they spend money in their shops.

Other suggestions include a pay-on-exit scheme in car parks, Park&Ride stops in Goodramgate, music and food festivals, and levelling off the pavement to provide a flat pedestrian area, similar to that in Coney Street.

Labour Councillor Brian Watson said: "Somebody's got to do something.

"They can't carry on as they are or we'll be left with empty shops."

Lib Dem transport executive member Coun Ann Reid, said: "I was aware the Goodramgate traders had problems, but not those on Lord Mayor's Walk.

"I do believe that for shopkeepers who don't open past six there is no problem with the parking charges and there must be more to it. Some of the problems raised by the Goodramgate traders are about other issues, like pedestrianising the area, which goes beyond parking rates.

"We've only made very little changes to the day time parking rates, over and above what Labour previously did."

Updated: 10:41 Tuesday, June 22, 2004