A new rock-climbing site is set to open in one of Southend’s shopping centres amid plans to offer customers a greater range of activities and services.
Indirock’s boulder walls will be based in a shopping unit on the first floor of the Victoria Centre which has been empty for around 15 years.
Bosses say they will cater for climbers of all abilities and ages, while also helping people develop their skills.
Hugo’s Pantry will be running a coffee shop inside the same unit, providing customers a range of hot drinks and sweet treats.
Southend Council gave the green light to the plans after it purchased the Victoria Centre in December last year.
Bosses are hoping the climbing walls will be the first of many leisure, cultural and community facilities being set up in the centre.
They hope finding new uses for empty shop units will help to revitalise the centre and improve the overall visitor’s experience.
Southend Council’s asset management boss Ron Woodley said: “The council is really pleased to have Indirock joining the line-up at the Victoria Centre.
“They will bring an exciting new leisure use, which we firmly believe will encourage more people in to our town centre and to spend more time there.
“It will be a boost to public health as people come to exercise and we are proud to partner with Indirock who are so committed to delivering a wide programme of initiatives to the benefit of the local community.
“This is the most significant new commercial letting that we have achieved since owning the Victoria Centre and it’s great to have such an exciting use taking significant space.”
Indirock, which is a not-for-profit organisation, says it will offer discounts to visitors on low incomes and provide adapted sessions for people with disabilities.
Co-founder Emily Vermont said: “We share so much of the council's vision for our borough and their strategy for an active and happy Southend, based around a more vibrant high street.
“We feel grateful for the massive support we have from our community already, showing there is such demand for a bouldering wall like Indirock in Southend.
“We can't believe that our idea is finally coming to fruition.”
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here