YORK awaits next year's Royal Ascot with fevered anticipation. It promises to be a great event and will give the city the sort of promotion and exposure of which tourism bosses can normally only dream.

For five days, the eyes of the world will be on York as the city proudly hosts one of the great events of the sporting calendar.

Yet there are still big issues to be thrashed out, not least what the royal meeting will cost - and who exactly will be paying for what.

Police chiefs in North Yorkshire are deep in discussion with Ascot about security. An estimated 50,000 visitors are expected at the races during Ascot - every day. On top of that, a high-level royal presence is envisaged, providing further serious implications for security and attendant costs.

Policing on Knavesmire will obviously have to increase to cope - as will policing around the city, which will be awash with high-spirited race-goers at the end of each day. Traffic also will increase dramatically, with implications for people going to the races and those just trying to get around the city in their ordinary life.

It is still far from clear how much Ascot will cost York. Police discussions have still not resolved the matter of who will pay the massive costs. North Yorkshire Police admits that Royal Ascot will be the largest pre-planned event for which the force has ever been responsible.

Local council tax payers have a right to know exactly what they are going to have to pay for Royal Ascot.

As yet all our questions on this matter seem to have hit a brick wall. No one is saying - and a game of pass the parcel appears to be going on.

One thing is certain: someone is going to have to pay.

We have a right to know.

Updated: 10:33 Thursday, June 24, 2004