Racegoers WEE in gardens, collapse on pavements & make shady drug deals… the bedlam on historic city’s streets
IT'S a historic city regularly named one of the best places to live in the UK - but every year, plagues of rowdy racegoers descend, using streets and gardens as toilets.
Locals told The Sun the smell of urine near their homes is so "overpowering" they've been forced to take a stand against race day revellers - as well as drunken tourists now relieving themselves outside their homes all year round.
Each year, around 350,000 people head to York races dressed to the nines, ready for a fun-filled day of boozing and betting.
While many polite visitors make it home with a hangover and empty pockets, others have been caught up in brawls and wild drunken behaviour on the historic cobbled streets - leaving locals fuming.
The residents of York, a city that often tops polls of the best places to live in the UK, and named Britain's best city by the Sunday Times in 2018, say they've had enough.
It's a common sight to see revellers using doorways to urinate and even carry out shady drug deals, residents say, and it's no longer just on big race days, but all year round too.
Lifeguard Diana Bila, 22, who moved to York from Ukraine three years ago, said: "At the start of the day when the races are on they look so stylish, but at the end of the day many end up being drunk.
"But it's not just race days - at the weekends there are so many people here."
York, a city steeped in history with plenty of pubs, clubs and bars, is a tourist hotspot and well known for its busy nightlife.
All-day visiting drinkers, stag and hen groups and an influx of horse racing punters through the summer, leaves residents with no respite.
In 2022, a racegoer was rushed to the hospital after being attacked at a bar during a meet while North Yorkshire Police say 43 arrests have been made at the racecourse over the last four years.
The Grade II-listed Golden Ball pub, in the city centre, even banned racegoers in 2023 after their wild antics put off the regular punters.
The landlord posted on social media announcing it would be a "safe haven" from the boozy revellers, where locals could go to enjoy a pint in peace.
Race day carnage
The Sun visited those living on Fetter Lane in York, where residents want a crackdown on out-of-control visitors and say their home is a hotspot for the worst behaviour of nightmare racegoers.
There has been an application for security gates to be installed at one block of flats, to help crack down on drug deals and those using the concealed entrance as a toilet.
The landlord, Alan Riley, 58, who has spent the last four months renovating his property at Constantine House, fully supports the scheme to secure the entrance.
Alan says: "You do get people peeing in it, or worse. There was a homeless person who moved in for a few days.
"I love York, but the ones caught short are usually younger people after a night out. These days, there are no public toilets.
"One guy yesterday was so drunk he could hardly stand up and had a bottle of vodka in his hand. I've no idea how he stayed upright - they use the flats opposite as toilets as well, so it's not just here."
Jason Marshall, 56, who moved back to York from Australia five months ago and lives opposite Constantine House, said: "It's not just over there - it happens outside my flat as well.
"The amount of people having a pee over there is unbelievable. This area is AirBnB central and this doesn't help the image."
It's happening all the time and not just on race days
Mile Larkin
But another resident, Mike Lakin, 53, a bar boss, says not enough is being done to punish peeing offenders.
He says: "It's happening all the time and not just on race days - I saw a guy get out of his car for a pee in the street.
"I reported that and the police apparently sent him a letter. They need a presence here - or CCTV installed on the street might help.
"We need bigger fines and penalties to try and put an end to it."
His friends Tanya and John have a flat at the bottom of the street at Centurion Square and claim their balcony is the first port of call for those wanting to urinate on Fetter Lane.
Tanya added: "On race days it can start from 11am. It then can go on all day.
"A couple of weeks ago someone came out of the Slug And Lettuce up the road and peed on the door - the bouncers won't have let him back in."
John says: "We are the first stop as they come round the corner - if we are on the balcony having a fag then they go the next balcony up the road."
Chartered accountant Sally Page, who has lived on Fetter Lane for a decade, said: "We've had friends who have visited from Edinburgh and they have commented on the drinking and urinating in the street.
"We are a staging point for the Stags and Hens from Newcastle and elsewhere and you can't take alcohol on the train north of York.
"I work in London and see people with bottles of wine and piles of cans at the start of the journey."
Down the lane Labour councillor for the Hull Road ward Anna Baxter, 22, is also appalled by the anti-social behaviour that sees people urinating in the street every weekend and not just on race days.
Anna said: "It's a constant problem to be honest.
"We have public toilets on Silver Street, but that's five minutes away. It's so close to the station and Sainsburys is just round the corner.
"People go here because it's convenient, but it's not a public convenience."
Visitor John Brown, 45, said: "It does stink in the street and I am just visiting - the smell of urine from some of those undercrofts can be overpowering."
Stink in the street
Plans lodged with City of York Council would see automated security gates fitted to the entrance to the undercroft at Constantine House, in Fetter Lane.
The inner part of the undercroft is currently closed off with a gate, but the entrance facing onto Fetter Lane can be accessed from the street.
Plans stated: “Unfortunately, given the openness of the undercroft, it has become an increasing issue for the residents of Constantine House to suffer from homeless people taking refuge or for town revellers to urinate or defecate within this undercroft area.'
The flats lie close to Micklegate, which is home to a number of late-night drinking venues.
They are also within walking distance of York Station and the Ouse Bridge.
The immediate area around Constantine House is made up of other blocks of flats and homes, as well as businesses, including hospitality venues.
On Saturday, racegoers made the most of the glorious weather, attending The May Spring Meeting at the track.
Aiming to top up their tans, glam guests arrived in an array of mini dresses with plenty of leg on display as they arrived.
York Races states on its website that it takes customer care and crowd safety very seriously.
It says: "York Racecourse will not tolerate anti-social behaviour and has a robust set of policies and procedures that seeks to prevent or, if necessary on rare occasions, deal with it should it occur.
"We have a strong working partnership with both North Yorkshire Police and our security provider to deal with any instances appropriately."
But for now, it seems York residents have been left living with the awful stench.
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