Last updated at 12:26, Friday, 31 August 2012

Plans for a £400,000 climbing wall in Maryport’s Wave Centre, creating seven full-time jobs, have been revealed.

GOING UP: A woman on a Clip 'n Climb wall

Allerdale council wants to install a Clip ’n Climb attraction, featuring a host of themed climbing walls and obstacles.

It would be the only one of its kind in Cumbria and the North East, and only the second in Europe. The other is in Exeter, Devon.

It is expected that the attraction would create seven full-time jobs, two apprenticeships, and part-time and casual posts.

There are currently seven Clip ’n Climb centres in the world, with the others in New Zealand and Canada.

The authority has applied for £180,000 towards the project from the Rural Development Programme for England and should find out next month if it has been successful.

Members of the council’s executive will meet on Wednesday to discuss the possibility of the council providing £220,000 from balances to fund the rest of the work.

The council said if the project went ahead, the equipment could be in place by April next year.

Paul Shackley, deputy chief executive, said: “The vision is a unique and exciting, regionally significant leisure facility complemented by cultural activities, local youth, dance, theatrical and musical groups, performance and rehearsal space.

“Ultimately, external as well as internal adventure concepts, including high ropes and use of the harbour for adventure-based activity, could be added.

“Clip ’n Climb is envisaged as the catalyst for this development.

“It is the most exciting new concept in indoor climbing to have emerged in the past decade.

“It is where climbing walls meet theme parks.”

The plan is aimed at turning around the fortunes of the centre, which has suffered lower than expected visitor numbers since its launch in July 2008.

It comes after a public consultation earlier this year showed that people wanted more activities for children and young people.

Last year the council spent more than £200,000 subsidising the centre, which is managed on behalf of the council by Carlisle Leisure Limited.

If the new climbing feature attracted 14,500 visitors per year the centre would break even.

Attracting 20,000 users, which is considered more likely, would mean the council could cut its subsidy by £50,000.

First published at 11:54, Friday, 31 August 2012
Published by http://www.timesandstar.co.uk