TWO senior officers have left Kirklees Council – and a third is to follow.

Tim Lawrence, the council’s transport strategy and policy group leader, has joined West Yorkshire Combined Authority (WYCA).

Mr Lawrence was at the heart of the council’s formal objection last month to Network Rail’s £1.5bn electrification project following concerns over road disruption, demolition of bridges and loss of trees on the route from Huddersfield to Dewsbury.

Moving to Bradford City Council is Angela Blake, who was Kirklees’ Service Director for Development with a remit that included major projects, town centres, property and housing growth.

She transferred across from North East Lincolnshire Council to join Kirklees in 2019. At Bradford she will be Assistant Director, Economy and Development.

Also stepping down is Keith Bloomfield, who is set to retire in October.

Mr Bloomfield, who was appointed in 2015 as programme manager for major projects, has been at the heart of several key schemes including the £3.9m revamp of Holmfirth town centre and the ongoing plan to upgrade the notorious Cooper Bridge junction. That is currently slated to cost £75m.

He previously worked at Wakefield Council for 19 years.

A Kirklees Council spokesperson said: “We’re always sad to see staff leave, particularly when they’ve served the council for so long.

“These members of our staff will be missed and have made a huge difference during their time with us. We wish them all well in the future.

“The recruitment process started some time ago to fill the vacancies they leave behind, with some posts already filled. So there will be no impact to the delivery of the projects they are involved in.”