Telford & Wrekin Council's £4m Ice Rink redevelopment plan
Telford’s ice rink is set to stay in council ownership and receive £4 million of investment to upgrade its facilities.
Councillors later this month will be asked to retain the Ice Rink as a Council asset and develop the facility to help make this a key part of the £250m Southwater development's leisure offer that will help draw in even more visitors to the area.
The rink is a flagship asset for the Council and included within the recommendations to Cabinet will be the redesign and refurbishment of the interior of the building along with the replacement of the Ice Pad, associated plant and Ice Rink barrier. The Ice Rink will also be extended to incorporate a new childrens Soft Play facility further enhancing the Southwater leisure offer.
The Ice Rink building will also be transformed to include space for up to two restaurants. Improvements to the exterior of the building will complement the Southwater development's High St whilst refurbishment works will significantly increase the rink's energy efficiency, leading to reduced running costs.
Cllr Arnold England, Cabinet Member for Leisure & Well-being, said: "If backed by the Cabinet, this will be fantastic news for the Council and will be another major boost for the Southwater development.
"The Ice Rink is a valuable, income earning facility for the borough. There are not many ice rinks in the West Midlands and ours in Telford has the potential to be amazing.
"We are investing for the future and it is important that we have an effective business model in place to help us realise the income earning potential we know the ice rink has.
"The Ice Rink is Telfords biggest youth club; providing young people with a place to meet with friends, have fun and be active.
"Adding further services including a soft play area and space for a restaurant inside and a further independent restaurant outside will enhance the rink itself and more people to visit Telford from all over the central England area.
"We believe we can do a great job by retaining the Ice Rink for future generations, and that we can have more success with the service than if it was to go to the private sector."
Cllr Kuldip Sahota, Leader of the Council, said: "If these recommendations get the go ahead, the Ice Rink will be a very welcome addition to the overall development of Southwater.
"It's an exciting time and follows a recent announcement that Cineworld will be building an 11 screen cinema as part of the leisure offer.
"We are working towards delivering a mix of development in the area including high quality public spaces, a cinema, bars and restaurants, and leisure and cultural facilities, a "community hub" as well as improvements to the Town Park.
"The Ice Rink has always had a place within the Southwater development, it's always been massively popular within the local community and has the potential to draw people in from all over the West Midlands. The decision will further support the investment that is taking place in Southwater over the coming years."
Should the recommendations be approved on 20 October, it is expected that work will begin on the Ice Rink in spring 2012. A phased development will see the new facilities completed by early 2013.
Telford & Wrekin's cabinet will decide on the recommendation for the rink’s future when it meets on October 20.
