Climbing arena loan write-off put on hold

Published on 22/03/2013 12:00

FINANCE chiefs have postponed making a decision over writing off a £230,000 loan used to prop up the loss-making Edinburgh International Climbing Arena.

The debt, which dates back to 2007, was set to be scrapped after a report declared it was “highly unlikely” the centre would make a profit in the foreeseeable future.

Edinburgh Leisure manages the climbing arena and is responsible for meeting repayments.

But councillors decided to delay a decision until a wider report into the debt and financial health of both Edinburgh Leisure and the facility is compiled. Councillor Iain Whyte said: “If we don’t go ahead [to approve the write-off] we are breaking a previous promise made by the council.”

The city’s culture and sport committee recently approved spending £940,000 on replacing the arena’s roof.