Reform claims victory as Labour climbs down over controversial Life Centre proposal
Reform UK has claimed victory after Labour announced that plans to replace the climbing wall at Plymouth’s Life Centre with a soft play area have been dropped.
Labour said the decision followed a “huge response from local people” and confirmed the proposal would not go ahead.
The plans sparked criticism from climbers, users of the facility and opposition politicians, with both Reform UK and the Conservatives publicly opposing the move and calling for the wall to be retained.
The U-turn was announced shortly after Reform UK’s Steve Ricketts and his team met with Plymouth Active Leisure, the operators of the Life Centre, alongside council representatives.
Reform group leader Steve Ricketts demanded an immediate climbdown from Labour over the proposal, arguing that the facility should be protected rather than scaled back.
Councillor Paul Reilly said the climbing wall should not only remain open but receive investment, warning against allowing it to “fall into disrepair” like other facilities.
Councillor Chris Sharpe said the ambition should be for the Life Centre to offer a world-class sporting facility rather than reducing part of the centre to a children’s play area.
The Conservatives also voiced opposition to the proposal during the debate, joining calls for the climbing wall to remain part of the Life Centre’s sporting offer.
In a statement on social media, Labour said: “We’ve listened. After a huge response from local people, proposals to replace the climbing wall at the Life Centre with a soft play area have been dropped.”
However, the party also warned that the climbing wall needs more users if it is to remain financially viable in the long term.
Photographs © Wayne Perry / Plymouth Post