TRAFFIC experts hope to avoid bedlam in York city centre when motorists flock to Royal Ascot in 2005 - by forcing motorists to travel on the A64.

Vehicles travelling from both north and south will be diverted from the A1 on to the A64 and will approach the racecourse from the south in an effort to reduce city centre traffic.

Roy Templeman, City of York Council's director of environment and development services, said people who bought tickets for the showpiece event could also be asked to indicate how they will travel, giving officers a head start on how to deal with the thousands of punters descending on the city.

Ascot has appointed traffic consultants and is working with the council, York Racecourse and York Police to come up with a plan to manage traffic on the city's streets.

Residents will hear a sketch of the council's ideas when an outline is laid before ward committee meetings in February.

Mr Templeman said a detailed plan had not yet been finished, but he said the A64 offered the "best possible way of getting traffic in and out" of York.

"When people purchase tickets, we are working very closely with Ascot, to get information about how they intend to arrive - whether it is by car or train, " he said.

"Clearly we won't get 100 per cent of that information. The emphasis is on ensuring traffic flow and movements as much as possible for Ascot race days in our city.

"From the A1, there would be diversions in place leading onto the A64 to York and, possibly, to a variety of car parks. It will stop people coming from all over the place." York is set to host the five-day spectacular of racing and pageantry in June next year while Ascot undergoes a £180 million redevelopment.

Mr Templeman said he was conscious that residents would experience extra race traffic. The A64 route would see huge amounts of extra traffic travelling through Copmanthorpe and Dringhouses to reach the racecourse.

He also rejected speculation that city centre streets would be closed to traffic during the five days of the festival.

He said: "We are extremely aware of the residents and want to minimise as much as possible the environmental impact on the city." The plans may be trialled at race days in the run-up to Ascot.

If the scheme proves successful, it could be used on other big York race days, such as the Ebor Festival.

Mr Templeman said: "Even though Ascot is coming, and there will be lots of benefits to the city, we want to do as much as we can for local residents."

Coun Ann Reid, the council's executive member for transport, said: "If people go on to the A64 it should actually minimise disruption to residential streets, as it will funnel traffic down the main road."

26/01/04

Updated: 16:29 Friday, April 30, 2004