A SENIOR Liberal Democrat MP has backed the city council's transport strategy - even though it is opposed to the party's national policy.

Transport spokesman Tom Brake MP said during a visit to York on that he backed the council's plans to reduce congestion and its decision not to introduce congestion charging.

The Liberal Democrats' national policy is in favour of introducing the road charges in major cities to reduce traffic flows.

Mr Brake said: "From the statistics I have seen today, York seems to be on top of its traffic flows in a way that nationally a lot of local authorities are not.

"The trend nationally is for more traffic, while York appears to have reached a plateau. In those circumstances, providing the traffic can be kept within those tolerable levels, I do not think there is necessarily a need for a congestion charge.

"That is clearly not true in other cities. It depends on the local circumstances and the local politicians are best able to manage that."

He toured the city's transport infrastructure and visited schools, Park & Ride facilities as well as York's traffic management centre and the new cycle route from Haxby to the city centre.

He said lessons could be learned elsewhere from York's traffic management system.

"There is some really excellent work going on here, he said. "They are successfully balancing the different demands from commuters but also the very significant environmental challenges."

Mr Brake also backed the council's draft Local Transport Plan 2, which was submitted to the government in July.

The plan includes radical proposals to close one of the city centre's bridges and introduce an electric tram to the city, as well as expanding park and ride services and building more cycle lanes.

He said: "Obviously, its open to consultation and maybe that will identify other issues but it's very positive and I hope they are successful in receiving funding."

The council expects to hear the government's decision on the plan and its funding by December. It will submit a final draft in March.

Coun Ann Reid, the council's transport spokesman, said: "York is at the forefront of transport policy.

"We are keeping down congestion levels and increasing dramatically the number of people who travel by public transport.

"We have a good story to tell as well. What we have heard is that the relationship with First is clearly much better than other authorities and it is that which has helped to increase the passenger levels on our buses."

Updated: 10:18 Monday, September 26, 2005