COUNCIL leaders have announced details of a major reorganisation that will see ten highways depots close.

The changes will mean the county council's highways service - Highways North Yorkshire - will be split into seven areas.

Seven area offices will be created to deal with highway work, from road and footpath repairs to traffic management and road safety. Staff will be moved from County Hall, Northallerton, to work in the offices.

Councillor Peter Sowray, the county council's executive member for environmental services, said: "The depots will be more customer-focused and in line with district council boundaries.

"These changes will not only improve the services we provide to the communities of North Yorkshire, but they will also save money."

Council spokesman Tony Webster said: "We have decided that the best way to deliver services is at a very local level.

"The reorganisation means staff will be moved out from central operations at county hall.

"People who then have a problem with the road network, footpaths or road safety for example, can discuss it with someone locally."

The reorganisation means depots at Malton, Pickering, Kirkbymoorside, Fulford in York, Norby in Thirsk, Croft House in Skipton, Kingsmill in Settle, West Ayton, Whitby and Starbeck are no longer needed and will be sold off.

The depots at Richmond, Kirkby Misperton, Skipton, Farnham near Knaresborough and Selby will be improved and updated to become new area offices.

Two new depots will be built at Thirsk and Whitby.

Council contractors RCS and designers Mouchel-Parkman will be based in the new offices, alongside council staff.

Plans for 11 new salt barns, enabling 50,000 tonnes of salt to be stored undercover, have also been announced.

This will prevent salt being lost when it rains and will allow dry salt to be spread more efficiently on roads in the winter, officers say.

The council says the changes will mean better accommodation for staff.

They will also appease residents by moving unsociable operations out of residential areas, it is claimed.

Officers say no jobs will be lost because of the reorganisation.