The team behind a new £2.7m activity centre in Chippenham are determined to bust some myths about climbing.

The climbing wall and skate park scheme for the Westmead playing field is due to open early next year.

At the heart of the new Arc centre will be a 46ft climbing wall, but its operator is keen to persuade people that climbing isn’t just for superfit daredevils.

The Climbing Academy is hosting a weekend of try-it sessions later this month at the site where the centre is now taking shape.

A mobile climbing wall will be set up from August 20 to 22, with the Friday dedicated to organised groups.

Then, from 9.30am to 4pm on the Saturday and Sunday, anyone over the age of five can try their hand at climbing and join in some fun games.

Staff from TCA and the Chippenham Borough Lands charity, which is helping to fund the new centre, will be on hand to answer questions.

TCA marketing manager Helen Cassidy said they were keen to bust myths about climbing.

“One of the common misconceptions is that only people who do climbing are superfit young men. That is true, they do do it, but we have a wide range of people going climbing now.

“There’s been a massive change in demographics.

“You see all types of people who you wouldn’t necessarily think of as climbers or gym users or into fitness.”

She said that people worried about heights could try their hands at bouldering – a form of ropeless free climbing on smaller walls.

And she added: “Climbing isn’t just great for physical fitness but it’s also great for mental health. When you’re climbing there is very little time to think about anything else, so it’s naturally one of the most mindful activities you can do.

“It’s a very sociable sport and we hope that a diverse climbing community will develop at The Arc as it has done in our other locations.”

Both climbing and skateboarding have made their debuts as Olympic sports at the Tokyo games.

TCA already operates two sites in Glasgow and another two in Bristol.

Helen said: “We are really excited and we hope local people are as excited as we are. It’s lovely to go into somewhere new.”

Borough Lands chief executive Phil Tansley said despite industry-wide delays with the supply of raw materials, the scheme was on target.

“We’re still hoping to deliver on time early next year.”

The Arc development is part of an activity centre, which as well as a new skatepark, also includes a café with indoor and outside seating and associated landscaping. Chippenham Borough Lands is funding the project, with support of £100,000 towards the climbing centre from Sport England and £200,000 towards the skatepark from Wiltshire Council.