SIGNATURES are still being collected at shops and cafs across the city for the Evening Press Stop The Highway Robbery petition.

Our message to anyone opposed to York city centre's new parking charges and restrictions is: keep them coming in.

More than 3,000 signatures have already been collected and sent in, and we want as many as possible when we come to hand the petition over to City of York Council in a few weeks' time.

Caf Concerto, in High Petergate, is one of the businesses where scores of customers have signed up.

Ian and Rozz Hancox have run the caf, which opens from 10am until 9.30 pm, for ten years.

Ian said they believed day and evening parking charges had definitely affected trade, with local people deciding instead to go to places where they did not have to pay to park.

He believed that early morning and early evening business were particularly badly affected.

Rozz said she had concerns for the safety of herself and female employees who could no longer park nearby at night, and had to walk back along darkened streets to car parks.

If you run a business and are willing to put our petition forms out on the counter, phone Mike Laycock on 01904 567132, or email mike.laycock@ycp.co.uk.

Updated: 11:06 Tuesday, August 03, 2004