Competition organisers say climbing is a sport for life
How the proposed soft play area would look if the Life Centre climbing wall was taken out(Image: Submitted)
A rally is taking place outside Plymouth Life Centre on Saturday June 13 as opposition to plans to get rid of the climbing wall mount.
People are being urged to “bring your gear, your friends and your voice” to the “peaceful” community rally from 11am to 1pm.
A post on Facebook by organisers Ikes Green and Andy Atfield says that for years the climbing wall has been “a vital part of Plymouth’s climbing community, introducing people of all ages to climbing, supporting young athletes, building confidence, improving mental and physical health, and creating lifelong friendships”.
With the tallest walls in the region and the only sport climbing gym in Plymouth, it was for beginners, families, clubs, and experienced climbers alike, they said.
“For many people, it has been their first step into climbing and outdoor adventure. We want to show Plymouth Active (Leisure) and Plymouth City Council just how many people value this facility and want to see it protected for future generations.”
Meanwhile the South West chair of the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) has slammed the proposal by the council and its arms length leisure business to replace the wall with a soft play area calling it “breathtakingly senseless”.
The tall wall, which stands 16 metres high, is a key venue on the circuit.
The BMC is looking to engage with the council to find out ways that the climbing wall, which is losing money, can be saved.
The authority claims the wall is underused and a soft play area will bring more families into the leisure centre. A consultation runs on the Plymouth Active website until Monday June 22.
More than 2,600 people have signed an ePetition on the Plymouth City Council website entitled ‘Stop the closure of the Plymouth Life Centre climbing wall’.
South West chair of the BMC Colin Knowles said Plymouth had been one of the most reliable venues on the circuit and had been used for a considerable number of years by hundreds of children but now needed money spent on it. He said he had spoken to people who would be happy to run it as a franchise.
“This is a really big deal, potentially losing a competition venue, but also climbing is a sport for life, a soft play area is not,” he said.
“I started climbing when I was in my 20s, I’m now 73 and do not intend to stop until I can no longer crawl to a climbing wall! With football and squash people usually give up competing by the age of 40, not with climbing. It’s life long participation and what the council is proposing to do is breathtakingly senseless.”
Mr Knowles said the UK was very strong in climbing competitions, with 19-year-old Toby Roberts winning gold at the Paris Olympics in 2024 and two women coming in the top eight.
He questioned whether the council was even allowed to replace the climbing wall with a soft play area under the terms of its agreement with funders Sport England
He voiced his frustration at the council having not yet made contact with the BMC despite requests to do so.
A Plymouth City Council spokesperson said: “The council is fully aware of its obligations under the Sport England funding award of February 2010 for the Plymouth Life Centre and has been liaising with Sport England for over six months regarding feasibility options for potential capital investments to help more people become more active more often.
“Plymouth Active are responsible for consulting with relevant stakeholders on their proposals for the climbing wall area and we understand they have been in touch with the British Mountaineering Council as the national sports governing body.
“We are, of course, happy to discuss the proposals with the BMC and our cabinet member for sport and leisure has responded to the email Mr Knowles sent on Tuesday to try to arrange this.”
