Dear High Life Highland,

We, as a climbing community, feel deeply disappointed by the news the High Life Highland is planning to close the climbing wall at Inverness Leisure. We feel that High Life Highland has made this decision without approaching or consulting the climbing community. This decision affects the customers who regularly use the wall and those who work there.

This wall has been open for over 25 years and has faithfully served the climbing community, both seasoned climbers but also those new to climbing and trying it for the first time. The climbing wall provides children and young people the opportunity to discover climbing, to enjoy the challenges it brings and to overcome physical and mental barriers. At the moment, there is about a two year waiting list to join classes. Adult and children inductions are in high demand and we feel that two climbing walls would be better able to meet this demand than one. 

Closing the wall will not only impact the local climbing community but could potentially affect those wishing to try the sport for the first time, especially if there isn't an affordable membership option at The Ledge, which at the moment there is no information available. 

There is a big enough climbing community in the area to support two climbing walls. And should Highlife Highland feel that the competition be too great, then perhaps the a change of perspective is needed. Couldn't The Ledge provide state of the art bouldering facilities while Inverness Leisure focus on developing a great climbing and leading facility? 

We, as a climbing community, feel that High Life Highland should reconsider closing the climbing wall at Inverness Leisure. We feel that there is a need for two climbing facilities in the same way that there are multiple gyms, pools and sports halls in Inverness. 

Below are some comments from those who use the wall regularly:

• "Climbing for us is both exercise and social."
• "I learnt to climb here, but only because I had the opportunity for such cheap membership as a student and I think it's awful that other wouldn't have the same chance."