As a self-employed courier I rushed around to make sure I got out of Sim Balk Lane to turn right on to Tadcaster Road by 11am as stated on the newsletter through my door regarding the re-routing of traffic on race days.

I arrived at 10.55am to be told by two workmen that the times have changed. They said it was now 10.45am and pointed to the policeman on duty who, rather bombastically, said I had to turn left or wait for two to three hours until the roads were back to normal.

I turned left and queued. I cannot understand the wisdom of turning Tadcaster Road into one-way and turning Sim Balk Lane into left only.

Coun Galloway should not forget who votes in York, racegoers from outside of York or city residents?

N Hillen,

Wains Road,

Dringhouses, York.

...Another pig's ear was created for motorists in Dringhouses on August 17.

After visiting the dentist in Bishopthorpe I decided to go to Tesco for a coffee and to do some shopping. A lovely relaxing hour, I thought, but when I wanted to go home down the A19 via the ring road, its was chaos.

On reaching the Askham Bar roundabout traffic was stationary going in to York and when I reached the Tadcaster Road exit it had been closed. But help was on hand - Coun Ann Reid herself was on point duty.

I asked how I could get on to the Selby Road and she told me I would have to go down Moor Lane to the Ring Road because it would not be opened until 2pm. I was now in a convoy of about ten cars. The next difficulty was getting on to the ring road because continuous traffic was coming from the north.

The next obstacle was Copmanthorpe flyover.

I then joined all the slow-moving race traffic going into York. There was a sign telling you to get into the appropriate lane somewhere near Pike Hills Golf Club, but the difficulty was getting into the right lane.

I noticed there was trouble with the traffic coming off the westbound ringroad at Askham Bar. It took five and a half miles and an extra 25 minutes journey time to get back to where I started.

Can I claim a travel allowance and overtime from the council?

Jocelyn Appleyard,

Viewlands,

Stillingfleet,

York.

Updated: 11:21 Friday, August 20, 2004