Climbing centre plans fit original aims of Ferry Meadows says trust which runs Peterborough park

An image of the proposed Climbing Walls planned for Nene Park.

Plans for the Lakeside Activity Centre and the Climbing Wall are seen as a key part of Nene Park Trust’s 10 year strategy to improve the park.

Under the strategy, the trust states it seeks to become the region’s favourite park by creating improved leisure, recreation, cultural and environmental offers for the city all year round.

It is adamant it is being true to the original aims for the park set out in 1988.

A trust spokesman said: “This vision was built on the founding covenant which sets out the multiple purposes and aspirations of the park, which included providing recreation, leisure, and education to support the social welfare of local people, as well as being a haven for wildlife and the environment.”

Matthew Bradbury, the trust’s chief executive, said: “We have a clear vision to improve the leisure and recreation, culture and environmental offer for people across the city year-round. The new Lakeside Activity Centre is a key part of these leisure plans and will provide an all-weather facility for people of all ages. We are excited to take this forward to the final stage.”

Mr Bradbury, who has been chair of British Mountaineering Council Access and Conservation since 2014 – a charity that aims to promote sustainable access to cliffs, mountains and open countryside - and was appointed as Independent Director of the British Mountaineering Council (April 2017 to August 2020), said the roles were not related to the Lakeside Activity Centre project and there were no conflicts of interest.

Nene Park Trust says the aim of the Activity Centre is to encourage more people to use the park and to improve the health and wellbeing of city residents.

As well as an Olympic standard climbing wall, it will feature Lead, Speed and Bouldering climbs and one of the country’s largest Clip ‘n’ Climb arenas.

There are likely to be outdoor climbing walls, offering chances to enjoy views of the landscape.

It will sit near the Lakeside car park with improved traffic flow and car parking.

The existing Nene Outdoors watersports and activity centre is a popular destination for sailing, paddle sports, archery, and cycle hire.

The planned centre is one of a number of projects. Others include a large-scale wetland meadow improvements, a 750m boardwalk in Bluebell woods, an expanded volunteer programme, and an electric passenger boat, hosting the Sculpture Collection and a new Share Farming initiative.

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