PLANS to hit motorists with evening parking charges have been blasted as "ridiculous" by a leading York businessman.

Graham Audus, spokesman for Fossgate Traders' Association, said charging would be understandable on late-night shopping evenings.

But he said: "If people are coming in to go for a meal or to the theatre they shouldn't have to pay for parking, it is going too far."

Cash-strapped council bosses have proposed extending charging hours to 9pm to raise an extra £300,000 a year.

They are also considering a 10p an hour jump for medium and long-stay parking and 20p an hour for short-stay.

Council run car parks would stay open and staffed until 9pm if the new charges are introduced.

However, Adam Sinclair, chairman of York Chamber of Trade, said the business community was "realistic" about the increases.

He said the chamber realised the financial pressures, the council was under.

"It is probably fair that any increase is spread over longer hours," said Mr Sinclair.

Michael Hjort, proprietor of the Meltons chain, felt the evening charges could be a positive move.

Mr Hjort said: "If charging means the car parks are open in the evening then I don't think it will significantly harm business."

James Lowe, of Villa Italia, in Micklegate, said: "It won't make any difference. If people want to park they will park."

Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said there was a "green" aspect to the increases, as the council hoped they would encourage people to use buses.

She said: "The buses are not as frequent in the evening because not as many people use them, perhaps if more people did there would be more buses."

Asked if the increases were aimed at helping balance the council's budget, Coun Reid said that York had traditionally been a "low rated" council.

She said: "The tradition has been the rates are kept lowish and the people pay for the services they wish to use."

York's car parking charges compare badly with other northern tourist cities.

Parking in the Union Terrace car park, York, costs £9.50 for all day. Seven hours in a council car park in Leeds is £5.60, while in Durham parking is available for as little as 30p an hour.

Further afield, eight hours parking in Oxford will sting you by £17, while five hours or more in one Cambridge car park is £20.

Updated: 11:00 Friday, December 12, 2003