Micklegate's Labour councillors have stalled a decision to agree a new 99 year lease to the racecourse over what they say are unresolved issues on race days. The decision comes in the wake of the council's ruling Executive deciding to press ahead with agreeing the lease, despite concerns around public disorder voiced by local councillors. Coun. Sandy Fraser, who made representations to the Executive meeting on Monday (30th June) on the issue, explained the reasons behind Micklegate councillors using the council's calling-in mechanism, which will see cross-party consideration of the issue:

"We have voiced concerns for some time now about the impact on local residents' lives of race days. Of course people living near the racecourse know there will be some disruption, living where they do, but they shouldn't have to put up with some of the anti-social behaviour from race goers, which is an unacceptable intrusion into their lives. We have suggested a number of practicable measures, all of which are affordable, to ameliorate those problems and lessen the impact on residents. Sadly the Lib Dem Executive has spurned them all".

The issue of the racecourse lease was first called in by Labour councillors in November last year when, as with this week's decision, they felt the Executive had not considered their concerns adequately. Coun. Dave Merrett, who also represents Micklegate said:

"Amongst a number of other issues, traffic management is an issue which the council has just swept under the carpet and the Liberal Democrat Executive has said is not a problem, with Cllr Ann Reid stating that all her constituents were ‘very happy with raceday traffic arrangements'. I know residents in my ward and in Dringhouses and Bishopthorpe would disagree with this which is why we suggested investigating the possibility of permanent southern access to the racecourse from Sim Balk Lane.

"The temporary southern racecourse car park proved very successful for the Ascot meeting in York and would do again if it were to become a reality. In fact, with the massive Terry's development on the cards bringing major extra traffic problems all the way down Tadcaster Road, and now last week's suggestion of additionally siting the new community football stadium at Bustardthorpe, it's high time the Executive got officers to produce a more comprehensive approach to traffic in this area. This should look at a direct link from Sim Balk Lane, rather than dealing with these issues piecemeal and stuffing ever more traffic through Tadcaster Road and pretending everything's hunky dory.

"As with so many other issues with which this administration is involved, it's simply ducked the real challenge. We will continue to make the case that residents in Micklegate and the south west of the city deserve better, and especially when the recent updated lease and this extension is and will continue to provide significant extra income to the council, which could go a long way to providing an alternative access route to the racecourse".