For more than 30 years, the wall at Crystal Palace National Sports Centre has been a cornerstone of London’s climbing community.
Now, climbers say plans for the redevelopment of the NSC risk its viability despite the soaring popularity of the sport across the world.
Matt Hayes, who runs the site’s climbing club Mount Palace, is concerned that the current plans the GLA have set out are financially unviable and operationally unsafe.
A petition to save the wall has gathered more than 1,500 signatures in three weeks.
Mount Palace has hosted Crystal Palace Community Trust youth club free of charge, but fear that the new plans would make this too costly to offer.
Youth manager Maria Ako said: “There isn’t an equivalent space in the area for young people to access.”
Ruth McGregor, local councillor for Crystal Palace and Anerley said: “We want to make sure that those facilities are there for young people, particularly economically disadvantaged young people.
Hayes and local councillors hope to maintain a dialogue with the GLA regarding the plans.
A spokesperson for the GLA said: “The proposals for the redevelopment of Crystal Palace National Sports Centre include the continued provision of climbing at the site and detailed designs are currently being developed in consultation with local groups, including the climbing club, to ensure the facility is successful.
“We look forward to working closely with the climbing club as the plans progress.”
Featured image credit – Lilian Mulholland
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