DEADLINES for motorists to apply for refunds over the Lendal Bridge fines have been extended.

City of York Council approved the extension on Monday, from December 31 to June 30, while council officers have been asked to explore a universal refund system.

A report is due to be delivered to the council in January detailing legal advice and administrative costs for processing the refunds, but councillors who attended the special meeting to extend the deadline have criticised the move.

Councillors Mark Warters and Brian Watson said they believed the extension would delay any action on refunding all motorists, but their concerns have been dismissed by cabinet member for transport, planning and economic development, Councillor David Levene.

Cllr Warters said: "This ill-conceived, poorly run and politically manipulated scheme is the Labour cabinet's mess and never mind pushing the issue beyond next May, they should deal with this mess along with the budgetary implications in this financial year.

"The best analogy I can use is when I walk my dog tonight if he makes a mess I would rightfully be expected to pick it up and not leave it behind for somebody else."

Cllr Watson said the delay "conveniently takes it into the next administration", further damaging the reputation of the authority.

He told the meeting: "You got us into this mess, it's up to you to get us out of it."

Cllr Levene approved the extension and explained it did not mean consideration of the report would not be put off.

He said: "The report is not proposing we do a report in six months' time - the report will come to council in January showing what path we should follow.

"All this decision is doing is saying if we wait until then, there will be huge confusion and reputational damage to the council because the deadline will have passed. We're saying let's extend the deadline to give us plenty of time to make things right."

A council spokeswoman said repayments were already being processed, and would continue.