It has been announced that Plymouth Active plan to change the use of the Plymouth Life Centre Climbing Wall and cease the use of it as a climbing wall. 

The Plymouth Life Centre Climbing Wall (PLCCW) is a cherished resource for our community and a vital part of Plymouth's overall vitality.  Opened in 2012, this 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 is the only facility of its kind in Plymouth (roped climbing) and would leave a huge gap in the local climbing community.  The PLCCW offers the local climbing community a well-equipped, well-staffed and fantastically welcoming environment for climbing within walking distance of the city centre and university.

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. In an era where obesity and mental health issues are rising, it is crucial to maintain such facilities to support our community's overall well-being. Climbing has been proven to improve both mental and physical health.

Moreover, the Plymouth Life Centre has played host to numerous climbing competitions, encouraging local talent and bringing visitors to our city, boosting the city's cultural status and economic aims. By revoking the climbing wall, we not only risk losing future champions but also an avenue for economic engagement. Climbing is now an Olympic sport and losing access to a roped climbing venue could stop the team GB champions of tomorrow having somewhere to train.

Alongside training courses, the PLCCW offers a wide range of partnerships with local schools in order to engage and inspire children to take up climbing as a sporting hobby. This engagement with schools would obviously be lost by the PLCCW and wider Life Centre business and even more crucially, as discussed previously, children would lose the opportunity to try climbing in a structured and taught environment due to the lack of alternative centre available within the local Plymouth Area.

Instead of cutting back on these vital resources, we need investment in their upkeep and promotion, ensuring they remain accessible and beneficial for current and future generations. 

If the planned closure was to take place, the next closest operating climbing centre to Plymouth is over 20 miles away, involving a 1 hour 15 minute round trip car journey from Plymouth with no viable public transport option on offer cutting access to this sport in the city. We call upon Plymouth Active, Plymouth City Council and involved stakeholders  to reconsider the decision to close the Plymouth Life Centre Climbing Wall.

Write to Luke Pollard MP with your thoughts, contact local councillors and stop this decision from being made final.

Sign this petition to say "no" to the closure and help save a key community sporting space used by participants across the city and wider Devon/Cornwall Region.