Route setting at the climbing centre

Bosses at a new indoor climbing centre say they are determined to open on time despite thieves stripping the roof of its lead.

The Kilnworx Climbing Centre in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, is due to open next month, but the building, in a former church, was raided for its valuable metal over the weekend.

Wycliffe Hall, which has stood on the site for 130 years, has been empty for the last 15 years, but director Lionel Bunting said its planned opening is a culmination of hard work from various groups which has seen a disused building totally transformed ready for the community to enjoy once again.

The centre is a social enterprise which will see the profits from the wall go back into the community.

The church currently has scaffolding on parts of it while building work is being completed and it is thought the thieves used this to gained access to the roof.

Mr Bunting said: “This is a real shame as the centre is so close to opening. We have been working hard to bring the church back to its former glory and unfortunately this will cause us a lot of hassle and expense.

“The roof has practically been stripped bare of lead but we hope to open on schedule on Thursday 7 June.”

The directors have been keen to retain as many of the church’s original features as possible, and have spent time cleaning up the original tiles and parquet floor.

Many of the original stained glass windows were damaged and smashed, but as much has been preserved as possible. Those which have had to be removed have been saved and will be used around the building as a part of community arts projects or in new designs on the main windows.

The climbing wall is now complete and the centre has begun to set routes on the wall ready for the first influx of climbers. Some of the routes have been set by members of Staffordshire University Mountaineering Club.

The centre is housed in a former church

The directors said they are keen to see the centre continue to grow and develop once opened, and plan to provide a variety of services as the centre grows. These will include fitness classes, yoga, archery, treatment rooms, a sauna and some off-site outdoor activities.

The project has been funded by private investors and partly by the Burslem Building Improvement Scheme European Regional Development Fund.