A ROAD closed to traffic for 20 years is to be reopened for Royal Ascot - despite furious objections from locals.

Terry Avenue, which runs alongside the River Ouse, will open temporarily for the use of taxis during the five-day racing event - despite a petition signed by 78 people opposing the plan.

Angry locals said they were kept in the dark about the road opening, saying officials who went to a ward committee meeting to discuss traffic for Royal Ascot had not mentioned it.

At a meeting yesterday, Coun Dave Merrett said opening the road to taxis would cause "major difficulties" with traffic coming up Butcher Terrace towards the racecourse, and would be dangerous for pedestrians and cyclists who also use the route.

"The impact for Terry Avenue would be most unfortunate," he said, accusing the council of failing to consult effectively with residents.

But council highways chief Peter Evely said consultation had been "extensive", with hundreds of residents responding to proposals.

He stressed that the road order, which will be governed by a 20mph speed limit, would expire at the end of Royal Ascot on June 18.

Unveiling the latest traffic master plan for Royal Ascot, Mr Evely said a massive 62,607 people could be at the race course each day, of whom 6,000 would be staff.

Of those, 26,050 were expected to come by car, 12,000 by train, 13,000 by foot or public transport, 750 by limousine and 3,200 from within York.

A total of 9,000 cars and 400 coaches were expected to flood into the racecourse's car parks, and 200 TV stations would be taking a feed from the event.

Walking routes to and from the course would be supplied with 66 portable toilets, and new buses run by First will ferry thousands of race-goers through the city.

A special edition of "Your City" - the council's newsletter - will be produced to publicise details of the extensive arrangements.

Updated: 10:20 Wednesday, March 16, 2005