A NORTH Yorkshire visitor centre is in line for an ambitious development plan designed to bring in more visitors to a top beauty spot.

A massive consultation into the future of the North York Moors National Park Moors Centre, in Danby, is underway, with nearby residents and visitors to the attraction canvassed for their ideas.

Officers working on the development plan have looked into the centre's strengths and weaknesses, as well as looking ahead to opportunities available and possible threats.

Education officer Sue Whitehouse said it was vital that the revamp, which could cost up to half a million pounds, was developed after everyone's opinions had been sought.

"We are consulting with local people and visitors to see what they would like to see here," she said.

"We have spent the summer consulting, and now we are analysing all the responses."

Miss Whitehouse, who is based in Danby, added: "The Moors Centre has developed gradually since the authority took it over in 1976 to what we have today.

"But the exhibition we have has stood for well over ten years, and we are hoping to put something new and exciting in there."

Mike Pratt, head of information services at the authority, said: "It's a very established centre but we do feel that the exhibitions and the grounds need re-visiting.

"People feel there should be more facilities for children and families, so people can base a whole day's visit to the centre."

There were two schools of thought for possible themes at the centre, said Mr Pratt.

It could be marketed as a centre of excellence for everything about moorland, or be designed to give a message about how fragile the unique moorland environment is.

Mr Pratt said the new facilities, which would be developed over the next 18 months to two years, represented a significant investment for the National Park.

"Some of the money will come from the authority itself, but we will be hoping to make major bids elsewhere, such as to the lottery, English Nature and English Heritage," he explained.

"It is going to be costing in the hundreds of thousands, and I think that anything up to £500,000 is realistic."

He added: "It's crucial to keep whatever we do in harmony with the surroundings because visitors really like the atmosphere round there.

"We want to make sure changes are in keeping with that, not at odds with it."

Updated: 08:37 Wednesday, September 25, 2002