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25
Jun 2022
Meet North Yorkshire's new highways chief
At 27-years-old, Keane Duncan has been made responsible for one of the largest road networks in the country and an array of multi-million pound highways projects.
It’s been a baptism of fire for the young politician, who has gone from the debates of student politics to the senior councillor in charge of highways in a short space of time.
His new role includes the £10.9 million Station Gateway project, a £60 million scheme to realign the A59 at Kex Gill and the newly incorporated highways company, NYHighways, which will oversee thousands of miles of road.
For Cllr Duncan, the position is an opportunity but he’s also aware of that the role comes with intense scrutiny - particularly in Harrogate.
Youngest county councillor
A resident of the village of Norton and a councillor for seven years, Cllr Duncan began his political career while studying at the University of York.
He got involved with the local Thirsk and Malton Conservatives and asked to stand for council.
He was elected to North Yorkshire County Council and then later to his local district council in Ryedale.
For two years, he was leader of Ryedale District Council - one of the six districts which will be abolished next year to make way for North Yorkshire Council.
However, he stepped down in February 2021 over what he described as a “cruel and unnecessary” council tax hike.
He said:
Ahead of the abolition of the county council and districts, Cllr Duncan was a key figure in the debate over what should replace them.
He backed an east/west model for North Yorkshire, while current council leader, Cllr Carl Les, was a proponent of the single unitary model.
Cllr Duncan said:
New highways chief
Fast forward to May this year and Cllr Duncan has been appointed the the executive and will now have a key role in the county’s highways department going into the new council.
While he is now both the youngest member of the council and the executive, Cllr Duncan said he had no expectation of being given the brief.
Read more:
- Another consultation to take place on £10.9m Harrogate Station Gateway
- Under-fire infrastructure plans for west Harrogate will cost taxpayers £25,000
He said he had “no hopes or expectations” of being given a senior position until he was asked by Cllr Les.
He said:
Cllr Duncan added:
Multi-million pound Harrogate schemes
One of Cllr Duncan’s pledges since becoming the highways chief is to visit each area of the county.
Earlier this week he visited Ripon and planned to do the same with Harrogate in the near future.
The Harrogate Station Gateway scheme.
The role in the district will prove to be challenging for Cllr Duncan, who will oversee schemes such as the Otley Road cycle route, Beech Grove low traffic neighbourhood and the Kex Gill realignment.
Perhaps the most high profile locally will be the £10.9 million Station Gateway scheme, which is earmarked for a further round of consultation later this year.
When asked for his view on the scheme, which has proved controversial in Harrogate, Cllr Duncan said:
Cllr Duncan said he felt that that “on the whole” the council was trying to get the balance right on the various schemes across the district.
However, he added that he was aware of concerns over some of the schemes such as the gateway project.
His new role will also be to field complaints and criticism from the public, but Cllr Duncan said he is determined to do his job well.
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