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Feb 2021

Environment

Gritting services to return to council control by next winter

Published: 8 Feb 2021, 06:55 GMT

Updated: 8 Feb 2021, 07:37 GMT

by Vicky Carr

NY Highways Ltd, a company set up and run by North Yorkshire County Council, is set to begin operations this summer and will be running gritting services from then on.

Gritting and plouging services across the Harrogate district will be taken over by a new organisation from next winter.

NY Highways Ltd, a company set up and run by North Yorkshire County Council, is set to begin operations this summer and will be running gritting services from then on.

In recent years, highways services including gritting have been sub-contracted to Ringway, with a contract value of £40 million. Instead, by next winter NYCC will directly control the work through its new local authority trading company or 'Teckal', with a revenue budget of £20m, a capital budget of £35m, and an expected turnover of £60m.

Cllr Don Mackenzie, NYCC executive member for access, said:

“Having our own company gives us greater control and flexibility over our highways service delivery, while removing the contractual constraints that exist with the current arrangements.

"Through more direct accountability for the works on the ground we aim to deliver a ‘right first time’ service with the customer continuing to be at the heart of everything that we do.

"A very large proportion of the highways team live in North Yorkshire, they are passionate about their communities and take pride in delivering services which are used by their own friends and families. We believe the new company will ensure that we get the maximum benefit from that local pride and passion.”

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The news has been welcomed by Pateley Bridge Town Council, which has issued a letter about the arrangements for winter gritting and ploughing after residents raised concerns.

The Mayor of Pateley Bridge, Cllr Mike Holt, explained NYCC's role and priorities in bad weather, and said he hoped the changes over the summer would bring improvements by next winter.

"At the moment NYCC subcontract all this work and much more to outside contractors but later this year, after many years they are bringing these services back in house.

"This should mean a more efficient cost-effective service and also through local knowledge, potentially a different set of priorities, concentrating on the worse affected areas instead of just following a scheduled programme.

"Certainly when the changes occur, you can be assured that Pateley Bridge Town Council will be monitoring the situation."

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Gritting services to return to council control by next winter

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