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June 16, 2005
Day Three - ii
Attendance today is much higher, perhaps 55-56 000 people, although the Rails Enclosure looks quite comfortably uncrowded unless you want to be right by the rails. There was also a big crowd outside the Palace for the start of the Royal procession, on both sides of the road; half the village must have been there! We'll have some pictures soon.
However despite the Lady's Day crowds, the village and York itself are still very quiet, and trade is well down. Many shopkeepers, restaurant owners and publicans have geared up for this week, with extra stock and/or extra staff and they are not at all happy.
It seems both that two things have happened: the traffic management plan has been extremely successful in sealing Ascot traffic off from the surrounding city and villages. Vehicles coming down Bishy Road in the evenings are forced right into Church Lane, and when they reach Sim Balk Lane, a copper signals them to turn right. Unfortunately that makes people think they cannot get into Bishopthorpe, where good food and refreshment awaits. Meanwhile other people who might ordinarily have come here think it is not even worth trying.
Posted by Andrew at 04:21 PM | Comments (0)
Good neighbours
One of the good things about Bishopthorpe is the way people still have time for each other in the street.
Today we celebrate an unnamed and unidentified hero. Passing in his car, he jumped out and righted the yellow diversion sign on the corner of Acaster Lane. As you can see, it had fallen in the path of someone quite unable to help herself.
Well done Sir!
Posted by martin at 07:52 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack
Day Three
A mild start with fairly high cloud cover. Forecast is for 'a little rain' and brighter later, with a high of 70F. The outlook is dry and warm with some sunshine. Today is Lady's Day, so hats off to them!
The going is good to firm.
36 000 people came to the races yesterday, but traders around York, despite perhaps unfounded hopes of a trading bonanaza, are talking of very low sales. Bishopthorpe was very quiet - locals away, people taking time off work, people keeping indoors for fear of crowds?
Or perhaps the whole management traffic plan is designed to get people in without actually 'touching the sides' and just spending their money on-course. The two-way blockage at the end of Main Street remains in place.
Posted by martin at 07:39 AM | Comments (0)