'We live in the UK's prettiest city being ruined by hordes of tourists'

The UK has plenty of beautiful cities that are worth exploring, drawing in millions of tourists every year. Unfortunately, while tourism does boost local economies, it can also have a major impact on residents. York, which is often recognised as one of the most beautiful cities in the country, welcomes eight to nine millions visitors every year, but now the locals are feeling the pressure that comes with the city's popularity.

York is seeing an influx of short-term holiday lets operating across communities, with many being located in residential areas. As a result a petition has been set up calling for more control and restriction on the number of the holiday properties.

The campaign on Change.org has been set up by Labour Guildhall ward councillors, who says that the holiday properties cause noise, anti-social behaviour and parking issues.

Properties in York and elsewhere typically require planning permission to be converted into holiday rentals, with owners and operaters being subject to rules. However, councils do not have the power to limit the number of them locally or designate permitted areas.

The petition states that more than 2,000 properties in the city are holiday lets, as well as one in ten properties in the centre of York.

Acknowleging the importance of visitors for York's economy it argued that the accommodations "are in the wrong place" when in residental areas.

Those properties then cause residents to experience noise and distruption, and become more isolated in areas. It also claims that the short-term lets will drive house prices up to unaffordable levels.

Cllr Clarke said: "It's pushing rent prices and house prices up, and leading to an increase in noise, disturbance, and even crime. We want people to enjoy visiting our beautiful city, but not in a way that affects residents so badly."

The launch of the petition follows the publication of Labour York Central MP Ms Maskell's private members bill in June. It would introduce new regulations for short-term holiday lets, reports York Press.

Properties would need a licence to operate as holiday lets and the industry would face tighter planning controls and rule around marketing if the MP's proposals become law.

Cllr Merret said: "We've started a petition calling in the government to introduce new regulations to control and manage the numbers of holiday lets and their operation, new legal powers urgenty needed."

As of July 3, the peititon has 959 signatures.