£1 million investment vow as climbing wall plan for Peterborough park aims for new heights
A £1 million investment pledge has been made as plans to build a climbing wall and activity centre at Peterborough’s Ferry Meadows look to reach new heights.
Specialist climbing venture the Lakeland Climbing Community has vowed to invest £1 million after it was signed up as the designer, builder and operator of the facility that is planned for a waterside spot at Gunwade Lake.
Bosses of Nene Park Trust have named the Lakeland Climbing Community as its preferred partner as the trust looks to scale back earlier plans for an Olympic-grade Climbing Wall and activity centre.
The investment will be used to add world class bouldering and roped climbing walls to the site.
Established 31 years ago, the Lakeland Climbing Community began life in the Lake District and now operates 16 facilities around the country, including Rainbow Rocket in Cambridge and Big Rock in Milton Keynes.
Nene Park Trust says the new facility is designed to appeal to a range of people, from experienced ‘boulderers’ to beginners and families just getting to grips with climbing.
Matthew Bradbury, chief executive of Nene Park Trust, said: “We are delighted to partner with Lakeland Climbing Community on this exciting project.
"They bring a wealth of climbing expertise and experience, offering an exciting new activity to our park for visitors of all ages.”
Jeremy Wilson, founder of Lakeland Climbing Community said: “We are thrilled to be working with Nene Park Trust on this Peterborough project.
"The location, park setting and architect-designed building are an amazing backdrop for what we hope to create at the heart of the scheme."
Just two weeks ago, the trust announced it planned to scale park its original plans for an Olympic-grade climbing wall.
Plans for the 34.25 metres high climbing wall and centre were given approval by Peterborough City Council in 2021 but the trust has since struggled to raise the money needed, which is estimated to be about £10 million.
New plans are now being drawn up for a ‘simpler, lower building with a smaller footprint’.
The new proposals will be unveiled to the public on April 13 from 4pm to 7pm at The Lakeside Hub in Ferry Meadows.