Plans unveiled for £640k visitor centre at island's 'Martian' landscape mine

CONCERNS RAISED HAVE BEEN ALLAYED BY ORGANISERS, WHO SAY SITE HAS 'REMARKABLE IMPORTANCE TO WELSH CULTURE'

- By ANDREW FORGRAVE Countryside and Tourism Editor

UPDATED plans have been revealed for a £640,000 museum and visitor centre at an old copper mine.

Parys Mountain has long been one of Anglesey's biggest attractions, luring thousands of visitors each year to marvel at its multi-coloured Martian landscape.

The site, near Amlwch, has been mined since the Bronze Age but it has been inactive for the last century.

Its history was told by the Copper Kingdom museum, which is currently looking for a new home after it failed to reach a new lease agreement for its former base in nearby Amwlch Port.

Amlwch Industrial Heritage Trust (AIHT) is currently seeking funds to relocate the museum to Parys Mountain.

Backers include the likes of The Marquess of Anglesey and TV presenter Sian Lloyd, whose great-great grandfather worked at the mine.

AIHT has now released the initial artist impressions of how the venture might look.

The visitor centre will contain an exhibition space, a study area, a gift shop and cafe.

There will also be toilets, storage facilities and an external viewing platform.