Ice skating to continue in Telford this summer say council bosses

Subject to planning approval on Wednesday May 30, a temporary plastic skate pad will be laid down in Southwater Square and will be open for business from Thursday 7 June until late September - ready for the reopening of the newly refurbished Telford Ice Rink in October.

Telford Ice Rink will close on Saturday 26 May and be handed over to newly appointed principal contractor Morgan Sindall for the extensive refurbishment, part of the overall £250m Southwater development.

The 234 square metre, open air skating pad will be located opposite the Credit Union office on the first grass square and will accommodate up to 50 people at any one time.

Sessions at the skating pad will run every day weather permitting throughout the temporary close of Telford Ice Rink and will be open to the public from 10am to 1pm and again from 1.30-4pm to the public.

Private time on the skate pad for Telford Ice Rink club skaters will be made available after 4-6pm, Monday - Thursday.

Councillor Arnold England, Telford & Wrekin Council cabinet member for Leisure and Wellbeing, said: “The introduction of this temporary skate pad will allow local people and visitors to continue skating during the summer months while we invest significant amount in the future of the towns ice rink.

“The refurbishment of the Telford Ice Rink will result in Telford having a fantastic state of the art leisure facility for everyone to be really proud of.”

Planning permission for the refurbishment of the Ice Rink was approved by Telford & Wrekin Council’s Plans Board in March.

The rink, which opened in 1985, is one of only 56 in the UK and is a facility of regional importance.

The works are expected to lead to an increase in visitor numbers which will support other leisure developments due to start on site is Southwater this year including an 11 screen Cineworld cinema and seven national restaurants including Nando’s, Pizza Express and Zizzi’s.