ANGER is mounting at York's parking taxes. Every day brings new protests.

Councillors cannot dismiss their critics as "the usual suspects": they are not serial complainers but charity volunteers, Morris Dancers, and social secretaries.

Meanwhile many small traders who have worked hard and long to build their businesses say they are being pushed to the brink.

In the face of this outrage, what do our Liberal Democrat councillors do? They vote down a proposal for an urgent review of the new parking fees and restrictions - then vote in wheel clamping.

This intransigence is set to cost the city dear. It even flies in the face of party policy: Liberal Democrat Parliamentary transport spokesman John Thurso has rightly condemned a national rise in council car park revenue.

These statistics revealed that York motorists have been stung by a massive increase in parking charges since 1997, which pokes holes in any Labour group claim to be the friend of the motorist.

But the extra yellow lines and the evening charges were a step too far.

The Lib Dems' refusal to sanction an urgent review is a major mistake. As things stand, the debate may not take place until January, long after the crucial summer season. By then, who knows how many tourists will have vowed never to return, or how many businesses will have been lost?

Perhaps councillors believe they are demonstrating true leadership by standing firm in the face of the fury. It is the Maggie Thatcher school of politics: never do a U-turn.

They should think again. The Lib Dems are running out of time to repair the political damage.

If they press on, the parking policy will become their poll tax.

Updated: 11:01 Thursday, July 08, 2004