Public consultation over plans for the Earth Centre

The proposals for the Earth Centre are on display

The new owners of Doncaster's Earth Centre are holding a public consultation over plans for the site.

Kingswood bought the site in March from Doncaster Council after the old Earth Centre closed in 2004 because it failed to attract enough visitors.

The new company is now planning to create a multimillion-pound outdoor educational centre for young people.

The proposals involve refurbishing the facilities and building new accommodation.

Plans also include a 11,000 sq ft indoor activity centre and sports hall, computer classrooms, meeting rooms and outdoor and indoor amphitheatres.

Former colliery

The public consultation is being held on Friday and Saturday at The Ivanhoe Centre, Gardens Lane in Conisborough.

Residents are being asked for their views before plans go to the council for approval.

Paul Gilbert, chief executive of Kingswood, said in a statement: "We want to make sure we get to know local people from the start and hear their views and ideas before we submit our planning application.

"We want to be part of the community in the future and this is the first step of that process."

The company said that the new centre would create up to 200 full time and temporary jobs.

The Earth Centre originally opened in 1999 on the site of a former colliery at Denaby but closed after failing to attract enough people.