BRITAIN must embrace the transport message pioneered by York, the city's council leader told traffic managers.

Making the welcome speech at an international conference on traffic management, Coun Dave Merrett said new technology must be "grasped with both hands" if attitudes were to be changed.

The conference, held at St William's College, showed off examples of the high-tech gadgets pioneering the council's £4 million Urban Traffic Management Control system.

Incorporating a £500,000 Bus Location and Information Sub System, the system will see the use of state-of-the-art messaging equipment, mobile phone and satellite technology in the drive to cut traffic congestion in York.

Referring to the city's ancient heritage, Coun Merrett said York was still a place which made history.

He said: "York continues to make history - but now it is the history associated with changing peoples travel habits, a history associated with genuinely integrating transport, and a history of making use of the latest technology to push forward the boundaries of intelligent transport systems."

Coun Merrett added that much had already been achieved, but more needed to be done to "civilise the car".

"We have managed to drive down peak-hour traffic congestion - and at a time when car ownership levels are rocketing," he added.

"We have the fastest growing Park&Ride system in Europe. These facts are impressive but we still need to do much more if we are to civilise the car and ensure our wonderful, unique city's environment predominates.

"Technology has the great opportunity to change our environment for the better."

Meanwhile, a Liberal Democrat survey has revealed that many York residents are dissatisfied with the city's parking services.

About 52 per cent of those who responded to the survey, carried out city-wide, were unhappy with the current provision.

Coun Steve Galloway, Lib Dem leader, said more than 9,000 people had now returned the survey.

He said it revealed that people were unhappy about suburban parking in some of the city's older estates, and dissatisfaction with parking policies in York centre.

Updated: 09:50 Friday, December 06, 2002