Earth Centre to become children’s attraction

A MILLENNIUM project which closed just five years after it opened, after failing to attract visitors, has now been sold and will be converted into a children’s activity centre.

By The Newsroom

Published 24th Mar 2011, 06:00 BST

Kingswood has bought the former Earth Centre in Conisbrough, near Doncaster, which opened in 1999 as a “green” theme park.

Around 200 new jobs are expected to be created through Kingswod’s plans, which will see the derelict site transformed into an activity centre with accommodation for 400 pupils and teachers, a high ropes course, classrooms, performing arts space and a sports hall.

Managing director at Kingswood Linda Addy said: “We are keen to get local people involved and I will be organising meetings for local residents in April to outline our plans for the site and the local job opportunities it will create.”

Doncaster Council has been spending £200,000 a year since 2004 to maintain the overgrown Earth Centre site. A spokesman for the authority refused to reveal the selling price, saying it was “commercially sensitive” information.