THE closure of a popular climbing wall was at the heart of a debate over safeguarding traditional sports in Swindon.

In a motion put forward at a meeting of Swindon Borough Council on Thursday, Coun Jim Robbins (Lab, Mannington& Western) urged the authority to ensure climbing walls and minority sports facilities could be retained, weeks after the Link Centre’s wall and sports hall were closed - to be replaced by an indoor trampoline park.

At the meeting held at the council’s Civic Offices, Coun Robbins accused the Conservative administration of focusing on 'spin and zumba' classes and said the town was at risk of losing its identity if it didn’t cater for all leisure interests.

He said: “This isn’t about the climbing wall, that’s gone, that’s not coming back. This about preserving traditional sports rather than going for what provides the most income for the council.

“We want everybody, regardless of their background or situation to have access to sports. There are disabled people that miss out as a result of this.

“I think that the battle for this climbing wall has been lost, but we still have to protect the leisure assets in this town and we still can.

“The Conservatives tell us it was secured and that’s wrong, it’s gone. To call it a success is wrong as they have failed to secure it.”

Responding, cabinet member Coun Mary Martin (Con, Shaw) said the transfer of the climbing wall assets to Greenwich Leisure Limited was a “necessary” investment opportunity that needed to be done for economic regrowth in the town.

As part of the leisure facility regeneration the council has plans to provide new commercial climbing walls in Stratton alongside the new Oasis Extreme Sports complex.

Coun Martin said: “It’s increasing our service offering alongside the Oasis Extreme Sports Centre and it’s necessary for us to do this to ensure we keep leisure facilities in the town.

"Traditional sports such as squash, badminton will not be at threat, we’re preserving the facilities the best way we can. There’s less demand on the taxpayer and exercise is still a top priority.”

Coun Bob Wright (Lab, Central) accused the council of limiting exercise options to specialist sports.

“There are compelling reasons behind this, you have restricted access to all people by not fixing the lift at the leisure centre, there’s limited affordability, you have disenfranchised the centre and stopped people being able to exercise in anything other than specialist sports," he said.

When cabinet member Coun Fionuala Foley (Con Chiseldon & Lawn), took to the floor she was widely heckled, resulting in Mayor Andrew Bennett having to restore order.

She said: “We have to balance the books and stop the expense to working people, it was a difficult action to take but we were in the position to take it.

"The town sent a clear message to us when they brought us back in. Labour left us in this debt, this is how we get out of it.”

Cllr Robbins slammed Coun Foley for her 'disappointingly political' response but the amendment to the motion was passed by 25 votes to 19.

The amendment read: “This council notes the successful transfer of most of the council’s leisure assets to GLL, a not for profit company that has both secured these much loved facilities and removed a £1.4m subsidy demand on the council tax payer.”