Climbing centre to make activity 'more accessible'

A community based climbing centre which aims to make the activity "more accessible" has opened.

Climbing Commons, near Stroud in Gloucestershire, will operate as a collectively governed social enterprise.

Spokesperson Chikara Shimasaki said: "We believe that climbing should be a social activity and that it should act as a gateway for going outdoors with friends and the local community."

About £40,000 has been spent on building the climbing wall, with more money set aside to support the project's first year.

The centre is based in the Victorian mill complex in the Frome Valley.

Shimasaki added: "We want to make climbing more accessible for the wider demographic, especially for people who have previously found it to be too expensive.

"We've designed the climbing gym to be able to accommodate children from the age of two because we're quite a small community," he added.

The centre will also have adults-only sessions.

Others involved in the project's development said they were hopeful the climbing centre would have a "friendly, welcoming atmosphere".

Steve Hyndside, a Stroud district councillor, said: "This is run by the community for the community".

Tomorrow's launch event will also 'taster sessions' for those interested in trying climbing.

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