PLANS have gone in for a visitor interpretation centre and café at Tavistock Woodlands, Gulworthy as part of the Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project.

It is hoped the centre will be a focus point for people using the 25-kilometre network of Tamar Trails from the Devon Great Consols mine to Morwellham Quay and exploring mine sites and that it will encourage more visitors.

Capital works project manager Chris Hariades said the Bedford Sawmills Car Park at Tavistock Woodlands was the main arrival point for visitors to the trails.

The centre was originally intended for Morwellham Quay, a 200-acre visitor attraction with a copper mine, museums, historic port and mine railway but that opportunity was lost when the site was sold and went into private ownership.

The plans that have been submitted to West Devon Borough Council are for alterations and extensions to an existing building currently occupied by woodland adventure company 'Tree Surfers' which will be managing the new interpretation centre. Toilets and a bicycle store are also included in the application.

Mr Hariades said the project would cost in the region of £150,000 and would involve a 100-square metre extension to the current building.

It would include display panels explaining the significance of the area in terms of its mining heritage, wildlife monitors connected to cameras in caves, mine shafts and adits to show bat and other animal activity.

Tree surfers will continue to run its activities from that base and the café and toilets would be open to the public.

If planning permission is approved, work will start in the new year with completion by the summer.

The Tamar Valley Mining Heritage Project is operated by the Tamar Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty with West Devon Borough Council and is funded through the Heritage Lottery Fund.