A PARKING protest petition has been launched by a group of angry York businesspeople who claim new charges could lead to people losing their jobs.

Business owners in East Parade, Heworth, have launched the petition against new on-street parking charges they claim are putting off passing trade.

The new charges, introduced across York, mean motorists must now pay to park in 60-minute bays. But the Heworth business owners say the charges are already hitting their trade. Hundreds of their customers have already signed the petition against the charges.

Heworth ward's three Labour councillors, Viv Kind, Ruth Potter and Paul Blanchard, all support the campaign.

Ian Simpson, who runs London News And Toys, called on York's transport chief. Councillor Ann Reid, to scrap the charges at the 60-minute bays.

He called for a car park in East Parade to be made pay-and-display instead.

Mr Simpson said: "People use the car park to park all day then go to work. Why not make it a maximum three-hour stay and charge 40p an hour?

"These charges will affect our trade. If they affect trade as much as we think they will, there could be job losses."

Peter Newton, proprietor of Newton's Hair Stylists, said: "The number of shops that have the petition shows how angry people are. We want the council to have another look at this."

Coun Blanchard said: "This move is so short-sighted. If people go out of business as no one

will pay the 60p fee, then there'll be no one wanting to park there, so no revenue, and the whole thing has been one gigantic waste of time."

Coun Reid said: "If the idea to introduce charges at the car park is a serious one then, of course, we would look at it.

"We would not want to go around putting charges on car parks that do not have them, but if the traders agree on this idea it is one we will consider."

Updated: 10:55 Monday, April 05, 2004