Rumours hit climb centre

SPECULATION about the future of the Edinburgh International Climbing Arena is costing it business, according to city leader Jenny Dawe.

The Ratho facility, operated by Edinburgh Leisure, is supported by a 650,000 subsidy.

In a meeting of the full council, Councillor Gordon Buchan, culture and leisure spokesman for the Tory group on the full council, asked Coucillor Dawe if she was willing to meet with private organisations and Edinburgh Leisure to discuss whether a public/private partnership could provide a way of ensuring the centre stays open,

But Cllr Dawe said: "I do not think it is appropriate for me to do that. And as the chairman of Edinburgh Leisure recently pointed out, continuing questions about the future of the EICA is having a very adverse impact on bookings."