A NEW director is set to take on managing North Yorkshire’s 5,350 miles of road and oversee the county's disposal of more than 300,000 tonnes of waste annually.

This summer Karl Battersby will take over from David Bowe as the corporate director of business and Environmental Services (BES) at North Yorkshire County Council.

Mr Battersby, who has been a corporate director for 12-years and the strategic director for economy and infrastructure at Kirklees Council since 2018, said he is looking forward to the challenges his new role will bring.

He said: “I am extremely pleased to be joining North Yorkshire and I am very impressed by the scale, professionalism, high-performing track record and innovative approaches to public sector challenges the council leads on.

“I am looking forward to tackling the challenges and the complexities the role brings and to working alongside such a talented team to deliver the very best for the people, businesses and communities of North Yorkshire.”

Looking back at his decade as the corporate director of BES, Mr Bowe said: “It’s been a fantastic time and I have thoroughly enjoyed the experience of working with some very professional people with great resources and terrific support from our elected members and senior leadership team.

“Of the BES team, well I would say you couldn’t ask for better really and I must admit reflecting on it; I’d love to take up the challenge again, if I was a few years younger.

"It’s still as enjoyable as it was when I started."

Mr Bowe said the role covers a broad wealth of different areas and projects, varying from significant waste procurement contracts through to recovery from major flooding events.

Subject to ratification by full council in February, Mr Battersby will join North Yorkshire County Council this August.