MOTORISTS could find many more ways to save thousands of pounds in charges in York if hi-tech new parking meters are installed.

That is according to City of York Council's planning and transport chief, Coun Ann Reid, who said the authority may soon invest in meters that allow people to pay with swipe cards and cash cards -similar to the Oyster card system found on the London Underground.

She was speaking as the council came under fire for its small car parking permit scheme, after it emerged that only a "handful" of the permits had been handed out in two years.

Coun Reid blamed the uptake, thought to be fewer than ten, on poor technology that could not keep up with the aspirations of council chiefs.

She said: "We are looking at other methods of payment in all our car parks because many discounts are only available if you buy a season ticket.

"The technology of the machines does not allow you to get a half price discount. Swipe cards and cash cards will be much more flexible and should allow us to offer pay as you go parking at reduced rates."

Members of the opposition Labour group blasted half price parking for small cars, such as smart cars, as "spectacularly unsuccessful" after it emerged that very few permits had been handed out.

Owners of the vehicles have been able to apply for half price residents' permits and season parking permits, which can be used in special smaller spaces, since April 2003.

Members of the ruling Liberal Democrat group hailed the move, and even got their national party leader Charles Kennedy to pose for pictures in the car of council leader Steve Galloway.

Coun Tracey Simpson-Laing, Labour, said: "To imagine York residents would rush out and buy small cars in enough numbers to reduce congestion or air pollution was - quite frankly - a crackpot idea."

But Coun Reid said: "Offering this scheme has not disadvantaged anyone else because the spaces available were smaller than anyone else could use.

"We always said it was just a first step towards increasing the number of cars with low emissions, but as is often the case, we are waiting for the technology to catch up with our aspirations."

A City of York Council spokeswoman said: "The scheme is an incentive to reward those who have lower emission cars, and encourage people who are helping to reduce pollution in York.

"A handful of people have taken up the offer of a discount and we hope that more will come forward as a result of this publicity."

Green councillor Andy D'Agorne said: "I would rather put effort into promoting sustainable transport in terms of promoting public transport, walking and cycling."

Updated: 10:20 Monday, August 29, 2005