ANOTHER 30 jobs could be created after Millers Bakery Machinery were given the all-clear to buy part of Hoyle Park.

Company bosses are delighted that councillors have approved the sale after months of heated debate with local residents.

Millers want to expand onto the South East section of the park near Chesham Fold Road and Rochdale Old Road.

They say the extra production space is vital if they are to fulfil new contracts, and had warned that up to 30 recently-created jobs would go by Christmas if they had not succeeded.

The plans proved controversial and led to public meetings, but members of Bury Council's executive committee have now agreed to sell the land. Under the deal, money from the sale of the land plus a premium payment, which the Bury Times understands touches six figures, will be spent on improvements to the park.

Mr Brent Miller, who runs the company, said the company could now move forward and expand.

"There would have been redundancies later this year otherwise," he said. "We could not continue with the facilities we have. This now safeguards the 30 people we took on at the start of the year and, once the building is up, it will create another 30 jobs at least."

He said the new building would take up only a small part of the park which was basically scrub. The money that Millers were paying would create a better environment all round, he added.

Councillor Trevor Holt, chairman of Bury East area board, hoped that most people would be satisfied with the deal.

"We had to find a balance between people's concerns and a business with new contracts that wanted to expand," he said. "The area needs jobs, and it would have been a shame if Millers had had to relocate.

"Millers said they would pay a premium to be spent exclusively in the park, which was something that residents wanted. I think we have made the right decision, which will benefit everybody around there."

Mr Louis Hough, chairman of the SRB steering group, added: "Our relations with Millers are quite amicable and, provided the money doesn't get lost in the council coffers and comes back into the park, I think most people will accept the deal and appreciate the work which will go into the park."

The scheme depends on Millers receiving planning permission.