A NEW report on town centre competitiveness has revealed that York is losing out to other cities because of "poor" parking provision and car access.

The national report, the Lockwood Survey, indicates that while the city scores top marks for its marketing and events planning, it is being held back by its poor car access during the day and its short-stay parking.

The survey looks at every major town and city in Britain giving it points on categories such as quality of toilets, street cleaning, security and policing.

York, revealed as a major regional centre, is said to be doing well - with more than 55 per cent of its shops and stores reporting growth "above inflation".

The city scores heavily for its festivals, promotion, quality of toilets, and street cleaning. New housing and employment, as well as retail investment, are said to be factors benefiting trade in York.

But it was given some of the worst scores in Britain for both the quality and quantity of its short-stay parking facilities and was criticised for poor car access between 9.30am and 4.30pm.

Parking issues were identified as a clear factor which was damaging trade. A year ago, city council chiefs axed up to 1,000 long-stay car parking spaces across York as the authority tried to encourage people to use Park&Ride - moves which were heavily criticised by residents.

But on Park&Ride the report also claims that: "It appears some smaller centres are introducing Park&Ride to make up for a deficiency in short-stay parking provision."

Ann Reid, the council's executive member for planning and transport, said: "This really confirms our view that we do need to keep the level of short-stay spaces in the city at a reasonable level. We have put a floor on the numbers and we recognise their need in York."

Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour's spokeswoman on planning and transport, said: "Park&Ride does work. What we have to recognise is that as a historic city we cannot build what we like where we like.

"I would challenge those behind this survey, and councillors Reid and Galloway, to name sites in the city centre where they could easily put 'new' car parks that would not affect conservation rules, and ask if they were to do this where would they put all the flats they wish to build in the city?"

Updated: 08:34 Monday, September 01, 2003