FRESH jobs hope has been given to a part of the Selby district where more than 600 people are facing redundancy.

Plans have been given the go-ahead to turn a former mine near Sherburn-in-Elmet into a business park that could create hundreds of jobs.

The news follows the bombshell - revealed yesterday in the Evening Press - that 550 workers are to be laid off at the village's DHL Exel supermarket distribution unit.

Earlier this week, bosses also confirmed that 80 jobs at the nearby Hero Supercook factory are to be axed, with production being moved to Poland.

Selby District Council has approved a plan by UK Coal to redevelop the disused coal processing and distribution centre at Gascoigne Wood.

The plan is to use 255,000 sq ft of the site for light industry and storage. Distribution operators could create about 200 jobs in the area.

Local councillor Bob Packham said: "If it provides jobs then that will be of benefit given that we have lost some.

"I have always felt there was scope to do something more innovative at Gascoigne Wood. It is such a good location for something that relies on rail transport."

Coun Wally Norton, deputy leader of the council, said the redevelopment of the site will be a long-term project, saying: "I welcome the new jobs to the area.

"I think that it will take some time for Gascoigne Wood to become an integral part of Sherburn in terms of industry.

"We hope that UK Coal now fulfils its promises of being able to encourage businesses into the area.

"They have said at each mine site that they have got people enquiring. Let's hope that they can fulfil their promises."

The former marshalling yard was used to wash and transport coal via trains when the Selby pit complex was in operation.

The site has a massive rail link that operator Network Rail describes as "one of the best strategic rail freight sites in Yorkshire and the north-east".

A spokesman for UK Coal said: "We are pleased that this application has now been approved because it will help the regeneration of the area over the coming years.

"It will create valuable new jobs in the area to help to replace those that were lost when the mines closed."

Updated: 09:47 Friday, March 31, 2006