Dozens of businesses will object to plans by Bradford Council to slap on parking charges in city centre streets.

More than 43 city centre members of Bradford Chamber of Trade have filled in questionnaires and say they strongly oppose the charges.

Chamber secretary Val Summerscales said they expected to receive at least another 40 objections in the next week.

She said: "The businesses are saying they are fearful of the effect on the viability of the city centre if the charges are introduced."

The Chamber is submitting the members' responses to Bradford Council to try to stop its bid to charge for about 150 spaces which were free.

The Council advertised a traffic order for the scheme with a period for objections last month. It would have gone ahead with the plan if none were received.

Now the proposals will have to go back to the Council's transportcommittee for a final decision on September 31.

The Council has five objections from people outside the Chamber., but if it overrules the objections the pilot scheme is likely to begin in April.

Motorists would be charged 30p per half hour for on-street places and 60p for a maximum one hour stay. Charges would only come into effect between 10am and 4.30pm and would be relaxed on special days.

A survey by the Telegraph & Argus and Chamber of Trade earlier this year showed overwhelming opposition to the scheme. Questionnaires were returned by 182 people, with 174 saying they would not pay.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.