TEN highway depots across North Yorkshire are to be sold by the county council.

A report to the authority's executive states the depots are surplus to requirements and proposes that four new sites should be developed instead.

Those earmarked for closure and sale are Norby, in Thirsk, Kingsmill, in Settle, Fulford Lodge, in York, Malton, Pickering, Kirkbymoorside, Croft House, in Skipton, West Ayton, Whitby and Starbeck.

Proposed new sites set are at Snaygill, in Skipton, Seamer Carr, in Scarborough, Whitby Industrial Estate and Pateley Bridge.

David Bowe, of the environmental services department, is also recommending the lease and development of new depots at Kirby Misperton, Farnham Quarry and Appersett.

The executive is being asked to approve spending £10m on the scheme over the next three years.

The shake-up of highways operations is designed to tackle such issues as savings on salting roads, environmental pollution, bad neighbour situations, poor staff accommodation and low morale, said Mr Bowe.

A staff re-structuring would be carried out following the integration of highways services within the Highways North Yorkshire business unit, with services delivered from seven area offices at Richmond, Thirsk, Whitby, Kirby Misperton, Skipton, Farnham and Selby.

Mr Bowe said the changes would make the department more customer-focused and in line with district and borough council boundaries, and improve the service.

The proposals include the building of 11 salt barns, which will give the highways department the capacity to store more than 50,000 tonnes of salt under cover.