A PLAN to funnel all race traffic through the A64 on race meetings will be pushed forward - but questions remain over the funding for the £65,000 a year scheme.

Members of City of York Council's ruling executive have agreed to start consulting and putting together traffic orders on a revised masterplan for York Races, as negotiations continue with Knavesmire chiefs about who will pay for the project.

Peter Evely, the council's head of network management, said: "We haven't managed to complete discussions with the race committee.

"We are not able to advise the executive of whether the costs of the plan will be covered in full, or part, by the race committee."

The council wants all motorists to access the course by using the main road in a bid to recreate the success of the Royal Ascot traffic experience for all race events.

Council highways experts have concluded that this is the best way of avoiding gridlocked streets in the city centre.

That plan, which will be put to home owners in January, will - if accepted - come into place for the first meeting of the 2006 season, which begins on May 17.

Council leader Steve Galloway said the authority wanted to continue discussions "in a constructive way" and stressed that race meetings were "important to York for all sorts of reasons", giving additional choice to residents in leisure terms.

He said: "I think time is of the essence. We would not want to delay any consultation of these arrangements.

"We will consult. We are interested not only in responses from people near the racecourse but from the business community in general."

Coun Galloway said while there was "overwhelming support" for the Royal Ascot scheme, some businesses were concerned about its over-effectiveness and feared some racegoers were excluded from parts of the city.

"We will be looking at ways that can be ameliorated for the St Leger meeting, which is a great opportunity for the city," he said.

Under the proposed plan, traffic arriving from the A64 will be split into two streams - the largest being directed to use Tadcaster Road, the other Sim Balk Lane and Bishopthorpe Road.

For every meeting, Campleshon Road and Knavesmire Road would be made one way between Bishopthorpe Road and Knavesmire Gates.

Measures will continue to be in place to stop South Bank roads being used as rat-runs and arrangements will also be in place for buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, as well as walkers and cyclists.

Updated: 09:35 Wednesday, December 21, 2005