ONE of East Yorkshire's most iconic tourist attractions could be set for a £600,000 refurbishment.
Plans to upgrade the visitor centre at RSPB Bempton Cliffs have been submitted to East Riding Council.
The RSPB has put together the proposals because it says the high number of visitors each year is taking its toll on the nature reserve.
Keith Clarkson, senior site manager at RSPB Bempton Cliffs, said: "There are about a quarter of a million seabirds at Bempton Cliffs, which make the site one of the UK's greatest wildlife spectacles.
"This has resulted in visitor numbers growing to 76,000 per year since the RSPB took over management of the site in the 1960s. However, the wear and tear is beginning to show, so we want to ensure the visitor experience matches the quality of the wildlife spectacle and that our visitors are able to discover more about what makes Bempton Cliffs so special."
The plans include extending the existing visitor centre to provide a sheltered space for visitors.
Toilets and sewage treatment will also be upgraded and car parking spaces will increase to 144 from the current 60 formal and 60 overflow spaces.
On-site office facilities for staff and volunteers, as well as a classroom for schools and community groups, will also be created.
Steve Race, education officer at Bempton, said: "When schools come here on trips and it is a lovely sunny day, it is the best day ever but when it's raining and cold, it's the worst," he said.
"To be able to offer schools a warm and practical working environment will be fantastic."
If the plans get approved, the project will also create four jobs. The improvements are part of a long-term plan for the reserve.
Mr Clarkson said: "We want to develop a programme of events and activities, which will be planned for the quieter periods of March to April and September to November, when visitor numbers are much lower.
"By attracting more visitors in these periods, we hope to extend the tourist season and increase visits to the site by up to 10,000 visits per year."
The RSPB has applied for funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund for the project and will find out if it has been successful in June.
