A £5 MILLION new business park to create up to 300 jobs has moved a step closer.

A clear-up scheme on the site of the new park at the former Holden Vale bleach works in Haslingden has now been completed.

Now it is hoped work on the new Trans-International Business Park can begin.

The reclamation scheme at the park cost £800,000 and was supported by almost £400,000 from the Action for Haslingden Partnership.

William Hargreaves Ltd are developing the park where there has been considerable interest from manufacturing and distribution companies. Construction is expected to start in early autumn.

"Creating a suitable high quality setting for the business park has been one of the most challenging projects we have been involved in so far," said Tony Earnshaw, deputy director of Haslingden Partnership.

A ribbon cutting ceremony was held to mark the completion of the landscaping work.

Converted for the new archive on 14 July 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.