Plea to use climbing wall after closure plan halted

Plans to replace a climbing wall with a soft play area have been halted following opposition from hundreds of people.

Plymouth City Council previously said the future of the wall at Plymouth Life Centre was under review, adding it was used by a "relatively small number" of people and running at a financial loss.

Kate Taylor, cabinet member for finance and sport, said: "We are listening and in light of that feedback Plymouth Active Leisure (PAL) will not be moving forward with these proposals."

But officials have urged people to use the climbing wall, adding it "currently loses around £100k per year". "The facilities offered can only thrive if they are supported by local people," Taylor added.

Regular climber Ike Green said she was pleased the "amazing place" would continue.

"It was heartbreaking when we heard it was going to close, not just for us here in Plymouth but for the wider climbing community," she said.

"I purposely bought my house five minutes up the road because I love this place so much – it is an integral part of me now and is a place where people get to be part of a community. Everyone is accepted and everyone makes friends here."

John Esherwood has been using the wall with Clean Ascent, a charity which helps people in recovery from alcohol and substance addiction, said the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

"I have been sober for a year and the climbing wall has been my go to. I look forward to it and it gives me the motivation to carry on," he said.

"When I'm on the wall, it's just me and the wall and I don't have time to think about anything else. I'm going to keep coming here."

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