Renewed interest in Peterborough’s Nene Park ‘strengthens’ Climbing Walls aspirations

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

Managers of the 1,725 acre park say a revitalised public interest in the park during the pandemic has strengthened the ambition to build a 34.25 metre Climbing Walls - part of a proposed Nene Park Activity Centre - on the banks of Gunwade Lake in Ferry Meadows.

The £8 million project was unveiled two years ago and now Nene Park Trust bosses are waiting for Peterborough City Council’s planning committee to give the application the green light.

Olympic-grade climbing walls centre planned for park will be one of tallest structures in Peterborough

Matthew Bradbury, chief executive of Nene Park, said: “We have seen renewed interest in the park during the current pandemic which has only strengthened our aspiration to expand our offer to include the Activity Centre and the indoor and outdoor climbing it will host, whilst also giving people open spaces to enjoy and exercise in.

“The Activity Centre project is based on an economically sustainable model delivering both our charitable objectives and our commercial offer - ensuring no financial burden on the charity, nor compromising our ability to maintain Nene Park for people and nature.

He added: “We await the achievement of our next milestone which is securing planning permission and will progress from there.

“We are currently awaiting confirmation from the council on a planning committee date which we hope will be soon.”

The dangers of the coronavirus pandemic have forced businesses and organisations of all types to take a variety of measures to ensure the safety of staff and customers and the same is true of the park, which caters for about 1.8 million visitors a year.

Mr Bradbury said: “Activity and climbing centres across the country are readying themselves to reopen so we are confident we too can adapt to the new normal.

“We will review operations of the centre to conform to any restrictions in place at the time of opening and indeed, in the long-term. Nene Outdoors, the Park’s watersports offer is already gradually re-opening.”

The trust also says the centre would provide facilities for community use as well as elite climbers and it is estimated it would generate £2 million a year for the city economy and create about 31 jobs.

A spokesperson for the council said: “The application is still under consideration and it will be a committee decision.

“The earliest that this application will be heard at committee will be September, however we have no firm date as yet.”

The plans have sparked opposition from campaigners who say the Activity Centre will spoil the countryside and endanger wildlife.

Campaigners say a petition opposing the development had been signed by 1,112 people with 1,944 names on a Facebook petition and 355 objections lodged on the council’s planning portal.TV’s wildlife presenter Chris Packham has also called on Nene Park to review its plans.

TV naturalist Chris Packham has officially lodged his objections to the siting of an Olympic-grade Climbing Wall on a lakeside site in Peterborough