Loss of climbing wall at Inverness Leisure ‘will risk pricing people out of sport they love’, warn campaigners
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FAMILIES risk being priced out of the sport they love unless the decision to axe a climbing wall is reversed, campaigners have warned.
Climbers who use the indoor wall at Inverness Leisure Centre have repeated their warning after prices for the city's new indoor facility, The Ledge, were revealed this week.
High Life Highland's climbing wall at Inverness Leisure, which is more than two decades old and is understood to be in need of thousands of pounds of renovation work, will be closing down permanently once the new facility opens its doors in the city's Telford Road.
But local climbers have warned that the new facility's pricing structure means families in particular face hundreds of pounds of additional costs per year if they decide to swap their existing annual High Life Highland membership for an equivalent experience at The Ledge.
And, while the new facility will boast much bigger climbing opportunities than those offered by Inverness Leisure's old wall, climbers fear families who can't afford the higher prices that come with that are at risk of being priced out of the sport they love - and have urged High Life Highland to reconsider their planned closure.
They hope a u-turn will enable both facilities to operate, ensuring that The Ledge's brand new state-of-the-art facilities are available while ensuring that those climbers whose financial circumstances may not stretch as far can still continue indoor climbing in the city.
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Claire Sutherland, who started a petition last month calling for a rethink by High Life Highland, has repeated her calls for the wall to be saved in the wake of the new pricing at The Ledge. She said: "I think a lot of people are justifiably concerned with its cost to families. If you've got kids that climb then it's a huge jump up [in cost]. A £411.60p family plan at High Life Highland covers two adults and unlimited kids. It's around £1100 for two adults and two kids for the newer [venue]. There's lots of variables... but it's quite a massive lump if you've got kids.
"Even if you look at the concessions. In HighLifeHighland you've got budget membership. Look at concessions at Ledge – it's £9. Then there's hire equipment and stuff. It's quite a lot to consider."
She warned that the change would make climbing a "lot less accessible" to those on lower incomes and that people who maybe go climbing once a week might wind up cutting it back to less frequently like once a month.
Responding to her concerns, High Life Highland said: “The indoor wall at Inverness Leisure is almost 25 years old and since it opened, its operation has been subsidised by other sections of the leisure centre.
“The development of a brand new, specialist facility means that the time is right for High Life Highland to hand over the baton to the Ledge whilst encouraging the new location to continue to assure access to climbing at an affordable price and recognise the equality and accessibility needs of the Highland climbing community.
“In ongoing discussions with The Ledge, High Life Highland has tried to secure a transitional discount or offer that could be passed on to its highlife members making the move to the new wall. High Life Highland remains hopeful such an offer may still come to fruition."
The spokesperson concluded, “Although the Inverness Leisure wall is now facing some challenges in terms of retaining qualified wall-staff, as far as it can, HLH remains committed to ensuring the leisure centre wall remains available to the climbing community until such times as the new wall at ‘The Ledge’ is in place and welcoming customers.”
Climbers in the Highland, meanwhile, have been reacting to the newly-released prices for The Ledge's facilities.
Prices for The Ledge include the likes of an £11 full day pass for adults (£9 concessions), as well as discounts for 10 visits for the price of nine at £99.
Over 70s can use the site free, and gym-only use if £8 a time.
Annual memberships are £520 for adults £425 for concessions). Family annual memberships meanwhile are £45 per month for the first adult, £20 per month for a second adult, and £10 per month per child under 16. A two adult and two child membership would cost the equivalent of £85 per month. There will also be some equipment hire fees.
Victoria Sutherland said: "Don't know where people are coming from regarding "amazing prices" - it is double the price of what it currently is at Inverness leisure centre. Hope its twice as impressive!!!"
Chris Nall added: "Yeah, I don't get it either. It's cheaper in Edinburgh and this is a charity."
Others said they "loved" the news over 70s could go free, while another said that prices were similar to those in other cities, citing Manchester.
While Inga Mackenzie said: "You can’t keep everyone happy. It’s something new, needs to settle in, and I’m sure they’ll make changes as they go to suit. But even it being a charity people need paid to work there and fund the charity also. I know this place will be great for the Highlands."
The Ledge was unavailable for comment.
