FIRMS on a business park where about 850 staff are employed have united to help secure its future by creating a Business Improvement District.

Members of the Dalton Industrial Estate Business Group have agreed to form the partnership to focus on improving the main route leading to the estate off the A168, after having suffered from flooding issues.

The move follows work between the businesses, Hambleton District Council and North Yorkshire County Council to improve access to the estate near Thirsk when Cod Beck bursts its banks.

Flooding in the area has often seen hauliers transporting goods to and from the estate facing lengthy diversions. Councillors have said the prosperity of the estate is essential for the communities it serves.

It has been estimated 1,050 jobs could be created - at firms already trading at the estate and by attracting other businesses - after road improvements and a £3.36million bridge, to replace the humpback bridge between the estate and the trunk road, are introduced.

A ballot of the 34 firms on the estate, which include pet food manufacturer and a perfume and flavour business, saw them vote to create the business zone, enabling a levy to be introduced on all the estate’s business ratepayers – on top of the usual rates bill – for the bridge work.

Cash generated through the group, together with grant funding from York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership and the Environment Agency, will be used to help build the new bridge.

Roy Fishwick, managing director of Cleveland Steel and Tubes, said: “Dalton has the potential to become one of Hambleton’s most important business parks.

“But without improvements to the bridge that cannot happen. Creating a Business Improvement District allows all the businesses to contribute to getting that bridge built and to the future success of the park. This scheme reflects a great example of the private and public sector working together.”

Hambleton District Council has granted planning permission for the bridge and a section of road at an elevated level, with flood embankments to give one-in-100 year flood protection. The contract for a firm to undertake the work will now go to tender. It is hoped the work will be completed next year.