PEOPLE living in a York street are being balloted on whether to introduce residents-only parking - three years after they originally petitioned for action.

Some residents in Avenue Terrace, Clifton, have complained that demand for parking spaces created by the Victorian street's proximity to the nearby bingo hall and York City's ground in Bootham Crescent often makes it impossible for them to park in their own street.

They are also concerned that a new proposed development of flats in the area will put extra pressure on the limited parking available.

But the council's highways chief has warned that any residents-only scheme would reduce the amount of parking space available as bays could only be allowed on one side of the road so that the fire service would have clear access in an emergency.

Sam Waudby, chairman of Clifton Liberal Democrats, said an application for a residents-only scheme was considered by the council's North west planning committee three years ago.

She said: "I welcome the fact that they are now balloting residents in Avenue Terrace, but I am annoyed that it has taken this long. Some residents felt as if the idea had been forgotten about while they were still having to put up with the aggravation of not being able to park in their own street."

Peter Evely, City of York Council's head of highway regulation, said the proposal for residents-only parking in Avenue Terrace had been listed for investigation since a petition was circulated in August 2000 and the north west planning committee agreed it should be looked at in November 2000.

He said: "This list is quite lengthy and it is normal for requests to take around two years to reach a point where there are sufficient staff resources to even undertake preliminary work on a scheme."

He said work had been completed only recently and letters seeking residents' opinions had been sent out yesterday.

He said: "It is with some regret that I have informed local residents that due to the narrow width of both Avenue Terrace and Avenue Road it will only be possible to provide parking bays on one side of the street.

"Residents are therefore being given the opportunity to consider the inevitable consequences that the reduction in parking would bring before a decision is taken as to whether or not to pursue the option of introducing a residents parking scheme."

Residents will not be able to vote for residents-only parking on both sides of the road as council policy, drawn up in conjunction with the fire service ten years ago, will not allow it in narrow streets such as Avenue Terrace following incidents where the emergency service has had access problems.

Updated: 09:44 Friday, January 24, 2003