A massive new climbing park could be coming to Bentham Country Club, if plans are given the go ahead by council planners in eight weeks’ time.
The extensive plans feature multiple indoor climbing walls reaching heights of 15 metres, a special bouldering area where visitors can safely attempt low-level climbing without ropes, and the UK’s first ever Olympic standard speed climbing wall, for those looking for a challenge!
Located between Gloucester and Cheltenham, the plans are the brainchild of 270 Climbing Park, whose company director, David Stevens, is also director of the successful Warehouse Climbing Centre in Gloucester.
If given the go ahead at a planning committee in Cheltenham on Thursday 22 August 2019, work will start on phase one of the redevelopment by March 2020, with plans to open the centre for business by the end of 2020.
The plans suggest that Bentham’s two existing domes will be transformed into one new dome containing multi-functioning sports pitches, which it’s hoped will be used for camping facilities and accommodation pods for visiting youth groups from across the UK.
Alongside the indoor facilities, plans include the UK’s first competition standard climbing wall, an outside bouldering area, a course of high ropes and an activity tower. A vertical series of climbable ladders and obstacles, known as a via ferrata, are also planned.
Company director, David Stevens said: ‘We are delighted with the designs and believe they will deliver significant improvements to the site and surrounding area. The overall project will create new jobs and deliver a best-in-class facility to Gloucestershire.’
The development will also include a fun climbing area for children, a 100-metre caving system, areas for yoga classes, and a licensed café.
For more information call 0330 4450 350.
