THE traffic master plan which aims to avoid roads chaos during Royal Ascot at York will not be trialled when racing kicks off at Knavesmire next month.

City of York Council officers could have used May's Dante meeting at York Racecourse to iron out any teething troubles in its scheme to keep the city's streets moving during the five day racing festival in June.

But an authority spokesman today said there had never been any intention of fully trialling the system during racing next month.

He said funding issues, and the unique circumstances provided by Royal Ascot, meant a full trial was not possible - a decision which had the backing of the council's partners, including North Yorkshire Police.

The plan in June will see most race traffic ferried to designated car parks from the A64 north and south, with the aim of keeping the city centre for day-to-day vehicles.

Many of those vehicles will be stationed at a car park on grass in Sim Balk Lane - something which will not be available during the Dante meeting.

The spokesman said: "All agencies involved are on board with this. The full trial for Ascot was held during the Ebor meeting last August.

"There are a number of reasons why we can't trial it again.

"Most Ascot car parking will be in Sim Balk Lane and that doesn't exist until the Ascot meeting. It wouldn't be the same trial without it.

"The whole plan also depends upon race traffic coming in from the A64 and they will not be doing that in May."

The spokesman also said that funding for the master plan, which has been mainly provided by Yorkshire Forward, would not stretch to a May meeting trial.

However, the council did say that temporary traffic lights in Knavesmire Road and Tadcaster Road would be operating when the first race meeting of the season was held on May 12, 13, 14.

Council chiefs are currently attending meetings with residents to explain the full details of the traffic masterplan.

Updated: 10:19 Friday, April 22, 2005