Taxis don't rake it in

I can assure you that, because of the amount of traffic on the roads, the drivers get to pick up far fewer fares.

It will be even worse next year for Ascot because it is forecast that more cars and coaches will be entering York. Let's not rely on council officials and police to iron out the "teething problems".

Council officers forget that not everyone using a taxi on a race day is attending the races. How about the people who regularly use taxis for everyday shopping, visiting and commuting?

Are they expected to fork out more money to pay for the extra mileage, time and fuel the taxis use to travel around the road blocks or to sit in a traffic jam then be dictated to about where they want dropping off?

Peter Evely and his colleagues need to remember that when the races are on York residents have to carry out their normal everyday duties and the disruption of their day should be what is paramount.

Just like Mr Evely, taxi drivers and York residents have a job to do.

K Appleyard,

Campbell Avenue,

York.

...TRAFFIC disruption occurs every time there is horse racing at Knavesmire and there's no doubt it will be horrendous in 2005 for the Ascot event.

has any thought been given to the possibility of channelling traffic from the western end of the A64 and also from the A1237 on to the southern end of the racecourse directly from the A64 via a military-type of slip road?

This would be a very cheap type of road with no need for Tarmac and traffic could be directed on to the Bishopthorpe road.

Once over the bridge on that road a similar slip road could be made to allow the same traffic to rejoin the A64 westbound. This would be a viable alternative to all the chaos which present proposals will create and would solve the problems of excessive queues along the A64.

These military-style roads would only be open for race meetings.

Wilf Taylor,

Horseman Avenue,

Copmanthorpe, York.

Updated: 09:55 Friday, August 27, 2004