Plymouth climbing wall to remain open following community campaign
The climbing wall at Plymouth Life Centre will remain open after Plymouth City Council and Plymouth Active Leisure (PAL) confirmed they will not proceed with proposals to replace the facility with a children's soft play area.
The decision follows significant public feedback, with hundreds of climbers, users and supporters expressing concern about the potential loss of one of the South West's key indoor climbing venues.
Plymouth City Council said the strength of feeling demonstrated during the consultation process had been clear and that the proposed closure had now been halted. The Council and PAL have committed to working together to support the future of the facility, including engaging with regional and national climbing organisations to help improve the climbing experience at the centre.
Colin Knowles, Chair of the South West Area at the BMC, said:
"Climbers across the South West are greatly cheered by the news that the Plymouth Active Life climbing wall will remain open. The campaigners who worked so hard for this outcome are to be congratulated on the effectiveness of their campaign.
"At last night's BMC’s South West Area meeting we agreed the importance of working with the PAL centre management to rapidly improve the public visibility of the wall and the range of activities and ticketing options. It's great news that the roped YCS round will take place there this year again – the 16 metre wall is an important asset.
"In the medium term it was felt that bigger changes are needed and that bringing together important stakeholders would be essential to ensure that the wall can continue to develop. This resource is so important to us that we are ready to continue the dialogue at every level."
The BMC note that the wall currently operates at a financial loss and we are urging local climbers to support the facility through increased use. Over the past year, around 208 regular members and approximately 500 occasional users accessed the climbing wall. In October 2026, 70 young climbers will head to the wall as part of the BMC's Youth Climbing Series.
We look forward to working with Plymouth Active Leisure, Plymouth City Council and the local climbing community to help secure a sustainable future for this important regional climbing facility.
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