York churches face parking problems
Members of York's city centre churches may face problems if the council goes ahead with plans to change parking restrictions.
The council has already extended car park charging to 9pm.
The City of York Council has announced that charges to use the City's carparks are to be extended to 9pm. Charging previously stopped at 6pm.
The council is also considering changes to parking restrictions in the city centre.
One city centre church is already encouraging members of the congregation to write to a council official expressing their displeasure.
The Vicar of St Michael le Belfrey Church says the changes will have a significant impact on all city centre churches.
"We're talking about several thousand people who come in on a Sunday, not just in the morning, but in the evening as well. I think this will make it expensive for them and that will put people off. These are people who are reaching out in a lot of voluntary organisations, caring for people.
So in a way, I feel, it's striking at the very heart of the city. The spiritual well being of these congregations affect the whole city. The effect on our youth work and clubs needs to be considered. I'm really hoping that as many people as possible will speak out and express their concerns."
Members of the St Michael le Belfrey morning congregation were quick to do just that. Perhaps not surprisingly, nobody seemed to be in favour of the changes.
"Because there are so many services midweek and things for the children in the evening, people come from far and wide. They're not just people living in the city centre, they come from all over. It's a huge congregation and they need somewhere to park."
"It's going to affect anyone who comes in by car in the mornings or evenings. I think it's an extraordinary decision and no attention has been paid to the implications for worshippers and the whole of the voluntary community sector. I think this is a grievous decision and it is undermining a vital section of the community in terms of its contribution to York.
"I'm astonished that the group in power should effectively, even if inadvertently, undermine people's freedom to worship. I'd be prepared to use the word grotesque to describe their actions."
(bbc.co.uk 25th September 2007)