A RACE day traffic management scheme that drew criticism during the York Ebor Festival will not run for the rest of the season.

City of York Council's transport chiefs were reminding punters that traffic systems were back to normal before today's meeting at Knavesmire.

Council chiefs said the decision followed a major revision of the traffic management system for the Ebor race meeting earlier this month, as part of a trial for Royal Ascot in York in 2005.

The trial of the scheme to beat congestion aimed to bring race day traffic to and from the racecourse by using the A64 and was hailed a success by the authority.

But it was heavily criticised by taxi drivers and commuters, and in a recent Evening Press phone and internet poll.

Peter Evely, the council's head of network management, said today: "I'd like to thank race goers for their cooperation during the trial, which provided us with a brilliant opportunity to test the aspects of the traffic management plan."

Updated: 10:36 Wednesday, September 01, 2004