THE owner of a York art gallery and shop claims parking charges are penalising the shoppers and tourists who bring wealth and prosperity to the city.

He warns that if the city goes into a vicious circle of decline as a result, the council could eventually end up suffering a drop instead of a rise in parking revenue.

Peter Hanson, proprietor of The Cat Gallery in Low Petergate, says his footfall has fallen since the new charges came in.

"I am not confident enough to say that the two are definitely related, since interest rates have also gone up during the same period," he said.

"But I have heard many customers and friends talking about the high cost of parking in York, with evening charges seen as a 'last straw' persuading people to shop elsewhere.

"If the recent drop off in footfall IS due to parking, then it is very worrying indeed as the effect in 12 months time is likely to be much worse. I think the idea of the charges is wholly wrong."

He suspected that evening charges had led to a drop in window shopping, affecting retailing figures the following day.

He stressed that the shop's loyal customer base and mail order business would ensure the shop got through the parking crisis.

Meanwhile, a guest house owner has also spoken of the difficulties caused by charges for tourists, and the way they are discouraging people from shopping in the city centre.

Jane Brown, of Monkgate Guest House in Monkgate, said more and more people were asking if they could leave their car when they have checked out.

"We have very limited parking and it causes unpleasantness when we have to refuse," she said.

"They object to paying the extra parking prices and many leave on the Sunday morning for the Designer Outlet Centre or the coast, when they might have stayed for another day in York."

She said she also greatly missed the use of the former gas works site for parking, as it had only cost about £3 or £4 for the day.

Updated: 08:27 Monday, July 05, 2004