Harper appointed as new RSTA chairman

Mike Harper has been appointed as the new chairman of the Road Surface Treatments Association (RSTA).

Harper (pictured), who is business development director at highway maintenance materials specialist Stirling Lloyd, will draw on his experience to raise awareness of new techniques and technologies that reduce costs and minimise disruption in highway maintenance works.

Under his chairmanship, ongoing engagement at national level with key industry stakeholders and major client groups such as Highways England, the Highways Term Maintenance Association and the Association of Environment, Economy, Planning and Transport (ADEPT) will be a key objective.

Harper will drive RSTA's agenda to ensure best practice in the use of surface treatments, encourage planned preventative maintenance and provide long term highway asset management.

Taking up his position at the association's recent annual conference, he commented: "It's a great honour to be appointed chairman of this important trade body and I'm looking forward to the first, upcoming meeting of the new executive to formalise strategy for the next 12 months.

"In these challenging economic times, helping highway asset managers to get the most from their budgets whilst, at the same time, delivering good value for money to the UK tax payer, is more important than ever. We need to actively promote whole life cost technologies that keep roads in a safe and serviceable condition. I welcome this responsibility and hope I can maintain the excellent reputation that RSTA enjoys in this industry."