UP to 40 per cent of Knavesmire will be roped off when Royal Ascot at York takes place in June, council chiefs have revealed today.

As well as the areas used when the race meeting is held between June 14 and 18, an extra 20 per cent of the common land will be out of action.

City of York Council chiefs today said the extra land would be needed "for safety purposes", but insisted that the remainder of Knavesmire would be open as usual.

As well as the Grandstand enclosures, tented villages and hospitality areas, Knavesmire land is also needed to hold the Rails Enclosure - the extra land from where 8,000 local racegoers will be able to watch the action.

Parts of Knavesmire will also be used to provide entrances and exits to the racecourse enclosure complex during the action.

A council spokeswoman said: "During Royal Ascot at York, as during normal race meetings, access to certain parts of the Knavesmire will be restricted.

"Approximately 20 per cent of the Knavesmire will be used for the race meeting and a further 20 per cent will be required for safety purposes."

Meanwhile, patients who use a doctor's surgery close to Knavesmire have been told that lunchtime appointments will be cancelled during Ascot week.

Visitors to the Jorvik Medical Practice's South Bank surgery will not be able to book appointments during the busy lunch hours when race traffic is at its highest.

A newsletter handed to patients and posted on surgery notice boards reveals that early morning surgeries will be extended. Home visits will be carried out "if absolutely necessary".

The practice has made the decision because it believes that, with Ascot coming, moving about in and around York, especially Bishopthorpe Road, will be "very difficult indeed".

Dana Homer, practice manager, said afternoon surgeries would be unaffected by the lunchtime decision. "We have just decided that lunchtimes will be very difficult because of the traffic situation," she said.

Updated: 11:55 Saturday, May 28, 2005