A MUSEUM boss has spoken out about the "bizarre" introduction of evening parking charges - not long after a campaign was launched to boost York's evening economy.

Dr Gill Page, manager of the Barley Hall Museum, off Stonegate, said that in her opinion, such charges were definitely detrimental.

"We have had evening meetings for corporate clients and for teachers since the introduction of the charges and on every occasion, people have been annoyed at the considerable extra expense to which they have been put," she said.

"The charges were introduced shortly after a campaign on York's early evening economy, in which Barley Hall participated as part of the York Archaeological Trust.

"Considerable funds appeared to have been put into this campaign, which was aimed at encouraging people to stay on in York into the early evening.

"It seemed bizarre in the extreme to follow up this campaign with the introduction of these charges."

The Evening Press campaign has also won support from the York Comedy Festival.

A spokesman said that, as one of the major events in York's festival calendar, organisers were naturally worried about any unnecessary barriers imposed on visitors.

"The York Comedy Festival hosts many evening shows, with people travelling from all over the country to attend.

"Increased parking charges and decreased availability of spaces inevitably deters some of our audience."

Coun Ann Reid, executive member for planning and transport, said renewed efforts would be made to introduce a practicable night-out package to encourage people to carry on coming into the centre on an evening. She said that when the night-out idea was first raised it was criticised as being impracticable, but it could be made to work.

She said other measures were under way to attract people into the city centre on an evening, such as a major scheme to floodlight different buildings and sights.

Updated: 10:17 Thursday, July 08, 2004