Councillors question £400,000 subsidy for climbing centre

Published on Tuesday 8 December 2009 08:52

PLANS to give a loss-making climbing centre in Ratho a stay of execution until 2011 are set to face opposition from councillors.

Councillors are to ask whether an annual subsidy of more than 400,000 to the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena (EICA) is a good use of Edinburgh Leisure's funds when it is closing four creches to save money.

A proposal to guarantee that it will continue to operate until 2011 was due to be passed at a meeting of the high-power policy and strategy committee of the city council this week. However, councillors instead voted to refer the issue to a meeting of the full council for a wider debate.

Councillor Andrew Burns, leader of the Labour group on the city council, said: "I do support the (climbing] centre, but it is a massive annual subsidy at the same time as four creches are being closed."

A business plan for the EICA approved by the Edinburgh Leisure board showed that the facility faces an accumulated loss of 2.9 million in the five years from April 2007. It is expected to suffer a deficit of 442,000 this year, then another 838,000 between 2010 and 2012, with the deficit being absorbed by Edinburgh Leisure.

Gordon Buchan, culture, leisure and sport spokesman for the Conservatives on the city council, said: "All of the money comes from the same pot, so it will be interesting to hear what everyone has to say about it. There needs to be that discussion on Ratho, because it does have an impact on the other things Edinburgh Leisure does."

Edinburgh Leisure announced that the four creches it manages – at Ainslie Park, Drumbrae and Gracemount Leisure Centres, and Portobello Swim Centre – will close by March unless a new provider is found.

The news sparked the revival of a campaign to save them.

Mother-of-two Shairron Murray, from Davidson's Mains, said: "If I had a choice, for us it would definitely be more advantageous to keep the creches open. We can cope with not having a facility we use once a fortnight compared to the other facilities that we use at least three times a week and sometimes even once a day."

David Gibson, chief officer of the Mountaineering Council of Scotland (MCofS), said: "The MCofS recognises the EICA as the national centre for climbing in Scotland. It is the only world-class climbing arena in the UK and is recognised as such by the International Federation of Sport Climbing."

"Reports that we have received from Edinburgh Leisure and Edinburgh City Council are very positive about its future. Indeed, in 2010 it will host the World Youth Climbing Championships, the largest climbing competition in the world, which will bring over 1m of spend to Edinburgh."

Councillor Deidre Brock, the city's culture and sport leader, said: "The Edinburgh International Climbing Arena, which was taken on by Edinburgh Leisure in 2005, provides excellent facilities for learner and professional climbers alike. Under Edinburgh Leisure's management, which is commended in the independent report, the annual subsidy has more than halved and the EICA has catered to ever-growing numbers of people, with 165,000 attending every year. The centre is regularly used by school groups, whose members are given an excellent introduction to a great outdoor sport in relative safety.

"Next September, the EICA will play host to the World Youth Climbing Championships, which will generate valuable income."