CHANGES to the crucial Royal Ascot traffic masterplan were unveiled today, as it emerged that every resident in York will be sent transport information in a bid to avoid confusion on the roads during the big event.

Criticism was levelled at City of York Council after plans to combat race day chaos were trialled during last August's Ebor week.

Evening Press readers gave the trial the thumbs down in a phone poll, but now officials have reviewed the three-day dry run.

They have announced alterations they hope will help avoid gridlock and they plan to post a leaflet explaining the traffic masterplan through every door in the city.

Traffic-busting measures last summer included controls on vehicle movements in key residential areas and improved junction controls.

However, many residents, racegoers and cabbies claimed the changes failed to ease jams.

Now, proposed revisions include introducing new traffic signals at Knavesmire Gates, protecting South Bank residents better from race traffic and introducing new systems on The Mount to improve taxi access.

A final masterplan plan is due before councillors in mid-March. The changes are due to be previewed at a race meeting in May. Next Tuesday's update report to council says the trial showed basic systems for getting traffic in and out of the meeting were "sound".

However, it said there were "significant weaknesses" in the management of Knavesmire Gates, particularly with vehicles arriving at the racecourse. This delayed public transport, causing annoyance among many cabbies.

But the council says departures on the final day of the meeting were a "notable success".

The report says a "large amount of staff resources" are being used to develop the transport plan - a key factor in ensuring Royal Ascot in York does not fall at the first hurdle.

A special radio frequency will provide "real time" traffic information during the festival.

The report says that a key lesson from the Ebor trial was that necessary information about the traffic plan was not widely known throughout the city.

Updated: 10:39 Wednesday, January 26, 2005