Could Southampton get an ice rink at last? (From Daily Echo)

Could Southampton get an ice rink at last?

11:40am Saturday 16th January 2010 in

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EVER since Southampton’s Top Rank ice rink closed its doors for the last time in 1988, skating fans across the city have been crying out for a new rink to be built.

But despite demand, the city has watched as numerous plans for another rink have fallen by the wayside.

Revealed exclusively in yesterday’s Daily Echo, a glimmer of hope has appeared in the form of Southampton developer Colin Warburg who has submitted plans for a £10m ice rink in the heart of the city.

St Mary’s is set to be the home of the new 850-seater ice rink complex that will house a 56m by 26m rink, cafe, restaurant, and gym as well as a number of retail outlets.

The rink, which could create up to 200 jobs, could also become home to a city-based ice hockey team and provide a home for figure skaters.

The site is where Chantry Hall stood before it was burnt down by arsonists.

Mr Warburg, who yesterday met with council planners, said: “An ice rink in Southampton has been a long time coming.

“This time we do not have to acquire the land and there are good transport links to the proposed site. We have had positive feedback and the signs are good.”

“The meeting with the council went as well as expected and we’re on schedule to submit plans early next month.”

As previously reported, Mr Warburg said research showed the rink was financially viable, despite the temporary ice rink held in the city over Christmas 2008 making a loss, and the failure to secure the return of the rink in 2009.

“I estimate we would attract about 250,000 people a year,” he said.

“Research shows that about 65 per cent of people who go to ice rinks are under 25, and with two universities in the city and a large population we have the market there.”

Experts have warned however of the high running costs of an ice rink and the careful planning needed to operate it.

In 2007, the council gave up on plans for a 10,000-seater conference centre and concert venue complete with an ice rink on the West Quay Three site in West Quay Road but later launched a hunt around the city for possible sites for a rink. The search was fruitless.

In 2008 campaigners marched on the council under the banner of United Southampton Skaters to hand in a 5,000-signature petition amid rumours of two leading developers meeting with council bosses to discuss a new ice rink. Again, nothing came of the meetings.

Mr Warburg himself even had plans for an £80m Olympic-sized rink derailed after the council chose to sell off derelict land next to Jurys Inn to social housing builder Lovell.

Temporary rinks have been just as unlucky.

Southampton’s then-ruling Liberal Democrats brought a temporary ice rink to the city over the winter of 2006/07 but it made a loss of £60,000.

The following year the council failed to secure a company to run a temporary winter ice rink.

In 2008/09 Olympic skating star Robin Cousins stepped in but also made a “substantial” loss.

Alan Abretti, operations manager at Cousins Entertainment, said he found it “hard to see” how a permanent ice rink could make money in the city.

He said: “I can’t see how any ice rink is going to make money in this economic climate.

“If a temporary rink is not viable I find it hard to see how a stand-alone rink will cope.

“It will need to be very well thought out and planned.”

He said an ice rink in the city would suffer if it only had one skating area or “pad”.

“Robin and I wholeheartedly support the opening of any ice rink and we really try to push as many as we can,” he said, “however it would need to be one that promotes the sport of ice skating and not just the leisure side of it.

“People need to realise it is not necessarily a money-making thing.

“There are limits to what you can n Continued over page achieve with a single-pad rink.

“What you end up with is ice hockey, skating clubs and recreational skating all competing for prime time on the ice, so not everyone can skate all the time.

“If a multi-pad rink was built it would go some way to counter that.

“We don’t have one in the south, and it would be achievable for not a whole lot more money or change to designs.”

From the Files - The Top Rank Ice Rink in Southampton

One skater who has kept faith in another ice rink opening in Southampton is Edna Boden, secretary of Southampton Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club.

She said: “We have been watching the plans carefully for some time now and we all completely support Colin Warburg.

“Yes, we have been here before, but this time it is a completely different kettle of fish.

“Colin Warburg is a man who loves this city and is a community man who is willing to develop a piece of land he owns into an ice rink.

“We are so excited the plans have got this far.

“It has a long way to go yet but it is very promising.

“The support and demand for an ice rink is still there and maybe we could one day see Dancing on Ice filmed in Southampton or perhaps we might produce the next Torvill and Dean.

“It is fantastic news for the people of Southampton and beyond.

“Our fingers are crossed that it goes through planning quickly and successfully.

“We are all holding our breath now.

“If things go to plan we could possibly open the ice rink of July 18 next year, exactly 80 years to the day since the original rink opened. How great would that be?”

Jimmy Chestnutt, director of Southampton and Fareham Chamber of Commerce and Industry, added: “It was a local entrepreneur Charlie Knott that brought skating to Southampton for the first time very many years ago.

“It looks like history is to be repeated. Colin Warburgh has our full support.

“An ice rink will add a new dimension to Southampton’s leisure scene and bring even more new visitors to our city and in so doing also benefit the retail sector and other local businesses.”

A public consultation has been launched and those interested can register their views online.

Public meetings are being held on January 21 at St Mary’s Church, St Mary’s Street, from 4pm to 5.30pm and 6pm to 7.30pm.

• What do you think of the plans? Email newsdesk@dailyecho.co.uk.