The boss of the doomed indoor climbing wall at Harrow Leisure Centre has hit out at the lack of consultation prior to closure.
The attraction, based in a converted squash court at the Harrow Council-owned sports complex in Christchurch Avenue, Wealdstone, will shut on November 24 because the three month lease held by Rock Frog, which operates the facility, is not being renewed.
Centre operator SLM will turn the space back into a squash court to help offset the loss of three glass-backed squash courts torn down to make way for an expanded gym.
Damon Clark, managing director of Rock Frog, said: “The decision was taken without any consultation with us and we were not given the opportunity to state our case. I can’t believe the council have handled it so appallingly.
“They thought we only used the wall six hours a week on a Wednesday and Saturday because those are the hours advertised on our website but in fact we’re open at other times for private bookings by schools, the Scouts, birthday parties and disabled groups.
“We have more users than the squash courts in a fraction of the space.”
Rock Frog has operated the wall for five years and will have to make its part-time manager and approximately 15 freelance climbing instructors redundant. The firm had just invested in new equipment, harnesses and holds when the bad news arrived.
Mr Clark said: “We were told the decision was made because of ‘wider participation’, the example given was to have a second gym to allow women to exercise without the presence of men.
“But there’s about 30 gyms in Harrow and there’s no other climbing walls in Harrow, not with public access anyway.
“For kids who don’t like football or find tennis too aggressive, climbing is a great sport. It’s a total body workout and you work as a team.”
Efforts have been made to find an alternative location for a climbing wall in Harrow Leisure Centre but Mr Clark said the potential places were unsuitable on healthy and safety grounds, could not replicate anywhere near the existing facility and would need about £30,000 investment.
Conservative council leader Susan Hall said: “I am concerned to hear of the problems Rock Frog have experienced, though understand they have been offered an alternative location in the leisure centre for a new climbing wall.
“This dispute comes as part of a plan to invest £1.7m into the leisure centre to provide a new range of facilities, but those who enjoy using the leisure centre should never feel that they play second fiddle to the management company Labour and Independent Labour brought in to run it.
“We would be happy to meet Rock Frog and any other groups which have had issues with the management of the leisure centre to discuss their concerns.”
