A FORMER college manager hopes to reach new heights when his indoor climbing centre opens this spring.

Geoff Niblett is behind Golden Gecko Climbing Ltd which gained unanimous backing from Test Valley councillors this week.

Now he is pushing ahead with his dream to open the business at Unit 34 on the Romsey Industrial Estate.

He said if all goes well the indoor climbing centre will open early May bringing four full-time jobs with it.

Geoff, who lives at North Baddesley, said: “This is my first business venture. I was a learning manager for motor vehicles at Sparsholt College for 11 years but I was made redundant last July and this gave me the push to go onto to become an entrepreneur because I already had the plan in my head.

“I am absolutely chuffed to bits to get planning permission for this. Councillors unanimously passed my plans and some said it was a fantastic idea for Romsey and were looking forward to bringing their grandchildren along. ”

He said that the family-orientated facility would cost around £200,000 to set up.

“The climbing wall is £100,000 alone,” he explained. There will be fun climbing challenges and people aged five upwards will have instant access to them,” said the 40-year-old, whose wife Deborah is a shareholder in the business.

“All they will have to do is put a safety harness on and go climbing. I am looking at putting in activities for active retired people too. We will also be doing children’s parties. “ The centre will have 100 sq metre roped climbing area with walls up to seven metres high, a boulder gym area, kids play area, party room and a coffee shop.

Opening hours will be between 10am to 11pm Monday to Friday and 10am to 10pm at weekends.

Geoff, who grew up in Lockerley, says he loves outdoor pursuits and before his managerial role at Sparsholt College he worked in North Wales.

“I spent some time there in the mid-1990s with the Northamptonshire Association of Youth as an outdoor pursuits’ instructor. I’ve done hill walking and kayaking. I love the outdoors,” said Geoff, an assistant Scout leader at Hursley and parent-helper with North Baddesley Scouts.

“There is a gap for this sort of thing in the market covering the Romsey, Southampton and Salisbury areas. Climbing is one of the fastest growing sports in the country and it is considered as one of the new sports for the next Olympics,” said Geoff.