Plan to replace climbing wall with soft play

People are being asked for their views on plans to replace a climbing wall at a leisure centre with a five-floor soft play area.

Plymouth City Council has confirmed the existing climbing wall at Plymouth Life Centre is "under review".

It said it was committed to ensuring the centre continued to offer high-quality facilities and the wall was used by a "relatively small number" of people running at a financial loss.

A petition entitled "Stop the closure of the Plymouth Life Centre climbing wall", has reached more than 3,700 signatures.

Councillor Kate Taylor, cabinet member with responsibility for sport and leisure, said the council was looking at "transforming what is now a specialist facility into something that supports much wider participation".

The council said since the centre opened in 2012, a number of alternative facilities had become available across the city and the wider region.

It said substantial investment would be required to continue meeting essential safety standards and remain competitive with other facilities.

She added: "We need to fully understand the impact that any changes would have, not just on current and potential climbing members but also on affected staff.

"I would therefore encourage people to take a look at the proposals and share their thoughts with us over the coming weeks so that we know how Plymouth people feel about the proposals."

The petition said the climbing wall had been a "cherished resource" since it opened 14 years ago.

It said the facility "supports both physical and mental well-being and the climbing wall serves as a hub for climbers of all ages and skill levels, offering a place to discover new hobbies, challenge personal limits, and form lasting friendships".

It added: "The closure of this climbing wall would not only diminish community health and fitness options but also deprive many residents, especially youth, of a safe and supportive environment where they can engage in positive activities."

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