BUSINESSES and residents in Milford Haven are invited to find out more about ambitious plans to restore Blackpool Mill to its Victorian heyday.

Four roadshow events, hosted by Bluestone National Park Resort, will outline £2.5m scheme plans to transform the Grade II Listed building into a Victorian-themed attraction, complete with a narrow gauge steam railway.

It will be a chance to talk to the Bluestone team behind the project, and traders and suppliers can learn more about events at the site.

If planning permission is granted by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority (PCNPA), the building could be open by the autumn.

It is hoped the attraction will create 60 jobs and inject £1.6m annually into the local economy.

The plans include a Victorian tearoom, a milling experience, a history and discovery level, a creative crafts workshop and a Victorian-themed ‘Escape the Room’ attraction.

Two other buildings, including the miller’s cottage, will also be brought back to life, and community and cultural events will be held in the riverside meadow.

An exhibition and events barn will be used throughout the year, whilst key to making the mill a year-round attraction will be the narrow-gauge steam railway, with its own station and platform.

Bluestone chief executive officer, William McNamara OBE, said: “The roadshows represent an exciting stage for the project and we’re looking forward to engaging with members of the local community and hearing their views.

“We would love to hear of any memories of the mill when it was operational, particularly stories about its workers and daily life that may have been passed down through the generations.”

  •  A roadshow will take place tomorrow (Thursday, January 26) at the Torch Theatre, Milford Haven.

Another event will be held at Pembroke Town Hall on Friday, January 27.