AFTER 50 years of fun and frolicking the Scout activity centre at Almondsbury is to get a £9 million makeover.

The Scout Movement has owned and operated a Camping and Activity Centre at Almondsbury for more than 50 years. The site at Woodhouse Park, Fernhill, has been used by thousands of young people to help teach them essential life skills.

However, keen to keep the Scout movement in the 21st century local leaders are planning big changes at the site.

Improvements include a new barn with climbing tower, a caving complex, a high ropes adventure course and improvements to the toilet facilities across the site.

Neil Salter, County Commissioner for Avon Scouts, said: "The Scouting movement, and the expectations and needs of young people, have moved on considerably in the fifty-plus years we've been using Woodhouse Park as a camping and activity centre. "We're now able to start a consultation process on our plans for Woodhouse Park and are inviting feedback from our neighbours and others interested in our plans."

An exhibition of the proposed plans will be on display at Almondsbury Scout Hall this Saturday, July 26, 10am to 1pm, as part of a public consultation before the Scouts put in a formal planning application to South Gloucestershire Council.

The proposals are part of a ten-year strategy and funding dependant.

"This is a long term development and will not all happen at once. The first phase will involve updating the toilet facilities but the development will be constrained by how quickly we can raise the funds," said Mr Salter.

Last year more than 14,000 young people used the activity centre, which though owned by the Scout movement is also used by local schools and South Gloucestershire Council.

Details of the Scouts' plans for Woodhouse Park are available at, www.avonscouts.org.uk/woodhousepark