Plymouth City Council has paused plans to replace the climbing wall at Plymouth Life Centre after hundreds of local people objected. The council and Plymouth Active Leisure say they will not proceed with the proposals, but officials warn the wall currently loses about £100,000 a year and needs greater local support. Regular climbers and charities such as Clean Ascent say the facility provides vital community and recovery support. The wall will remain open while options to improve its sustainability are explored.
Community Victory: Plymouth Life Centre Climbing Wall Saved After Public Backlash
Plans to replace the climbing wall at Plymouth Life Centre with a soft-play area have been halted after hundreds of local people objected, the council has confirmed.
Plymouth City Council said the wall's future had been under review because it was used by a "relatively small number" of people and was operating at a financial loss. In response to public feedback, Kate Taylor, the cabinet member for finance and sport, said Plymouth Active Leisure (PAL) will not be moving forward with the proposals.
Kate Taylor: "We are listening and in light of that feedback Plymouth Active Leisure (PAL) will not be moving forward with these proposals." She added officials were urging more local people to use the wall, noting it "currently loses around £100k per year" and that "the facilities offered can only thrive if they are supported by local people."
Regular climber Ike Green welcomed the decision. "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, who uses the wall with Clean Ascent — a charity that supports people recovering from alcohol and substance addiction — told the Local Democracy Reporting Service the facility has been crucial to his recovery. "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."
Officials say the wall will remain open while the council and PAL explore ways to make the facility more financially sustainable. They have urged local residents to increase usage and engagement if they want to preserve the wall and its community benefits.
For follow-up or to share local experiences, readers can contact the Local Democracy Reporting Service or follow BBC Devon on social media.
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