Earlier this year the climbing wall at Fort Regent was closed because of safety concerns, forcing the Jersey Rock Climbing Club to move its sessions to Langford Sports Centre.
However, club secretary Matt Amy says that the centre is expensive to use and is available only at certain times.
He says that potential climbers are being put off joining the club because they cannot train indoors, and that the States are not offering enough support to help the sport to grow in the Island.
In 2012 Prince Charles made headlines testing out Grainville’s newly built climbing wall. The Prince laughed after his climb on the traversing wall in the school’s gym.
‘We get a lot of interest from people who want to get involved, and we are blessed to have the cliffs that we do in Jersey,’ he said.
‘The trouble is that most people want to practise inside in a safe environment, and we really don’t have the facilities available to us.
‘People don’t want to come outside straight away because it’s a bit nerve-wracking to dangle yourself off a cliff.
‘After the wall at Fort Regent was shut down, the club was talking to the States about having a new wall as part of the redevelopment of Fort Regent.
‘They seemed keen, but that went quiet and we haven’t heard anything from them since.
‘If the States wanted to help, it would be brilliant.
‘We do not need funds because we have lots of builders who can construct a wall.
‘We need space, and the States have lots of space.
‘If other clubs have clubhouses and training facilities, why can’t we?’
Mr Amy has written to the States, who have passed his concerns onto Jersey Property Holdings.
