Plymouth rally to fight 'breathtakingly senseless' closure plan

Plymouth residents are mobilizing to oppose a plan to close the town’s 16‑meter climbing wall, a centerpiece of local sports culture. A peaceful rally is planned outside the Plymouth Life Centre on Saturday, June 13, from 11am to 1pm, organized by Ikes Green and Andy Atfield. The wall supports beginners, families, clubs and elite climbers and is the only climbing gym in the city. Council proposals would replace it with a soft‑play area to attract more families, drawing strong criticism from the British Mountaineering Council, which calls the idea 'breathtakingly senseless.' A consultation runs until June 22, and more than 2,600 people have signed a petition opposing the closure.