MUCH of the recent correspondence about York race traffic management misses the central point: what is in the best interests of the racecourse committee must, inevitably, be in the best interests of the residents.

It is against this background that I venture a modest proposal: that for the two weeks before every race meeting and during the week of the meeting itself, the powers of the city council, the Police Authority, the licensing authority and the Highways Agency be formally ceded to the racecourse committee.

Such a move would have the effect of cutting out the middlemen and placing control where power already seems to reside.

There are many benefits of such a move. The council tax payer would save a fortune on unnecessary allowances to councillors who would have no need to attend meetings to be told what to do by the racecourse committee.

The proper right of publicans and restaurateurs to serve seemingly endless supplies of alcohol to people who are already drunk when they arrive at the racecourse would be safeguarded.

The ceaseless carping of residents who object to racegoers vomiting, littering, and relieving themselves in the streets and allotments adjacent to the racecourse could be silenced.

And, if the racecourse committee had control of traffic movements, the hundreds of stretch limousines attending the races could be guaranteed swifter movement by turning the bus lanes over to them.

I hope our elected representatives will join me in promoting the idea.

It is clear from the amount of consultation with local residents that we have been in the forefront of their minds. After all, a successful Ascot at York is, clearly, vital to our interests as citizens.

Norman Maitland,

South Bank Avenue, York.

Updated: 11:09 Monday, September 06, 2004