I HAVE been following all the letters regarding the proposal at WestQuay 3 for another cinema complex of all things.

It would be empty, like the others are in the daytime and peak use would be evenings and weekends.

We already have too many cinemas - they serve no educational purpose.

The argument for and against an ice rink has been going on for over 20 years now - why? The council promised the residents of Southampton a new rink and this promise should be honoured now.

The ice rink wuold be idealy located on West Quay stage 3 - next to The Quays swimming pool.

We have a lack of sporting facilities for the youth of Southampton to channel their energy and create talent.

We should be promoting sport for all in Southampton and yet we are denying our children the chance of this activity.

We promote the diving programme at the Quays and are producing wonderful hidden talent at Olympic level from our local schools - well done.

However, the argument against the ice rink says that the facility would not be financially viable because it would be empty in the day time. That's nonsense.

When we had the previous ice rink it was used daily by local schools and lessons were provided to all school kids who wanted to try the sport.

Bowling was another sport on offer to schools. There were lessons taking place in the daytime and open sessions for public skating as well as private lessons and practice times for ice hockey and figure skating clubs.

The council made a lot of money when they sold off the ice rink and the builders purchased the land made available.

This promise of a new ice rink was not imagined. It was put in writing and discussed and the decision was made that a new ice rink would be built to compensate for the loss.

I think the local coucillors and polititians should sit up and read all those letters as every one of those letters was written by a potential voter in the next council elections.

With the Olympics on the horizon we have no sports complex big enough to host any related events.

I recently attended the Southampton Amatueur Gymnastics Association'shristmas presentation. Local schools were also invited to display their talents. It was held at the Guildhall. The venue was very diappointing for a sporting event and those children taking part had to sit on chairs on the stage. There was a make you up arena at the front where the gymnasts performed in the available space.

The hall was freezing cold and no refreshments available - what a letdown!

The SAGA put on a wonderful display and echoed the amount of talent we have here in the youth of Southampton hidden away!

Why do we not have a large arena for them to perform - they have been a club over 40 years and have produced lots of local talent to a high level?

We should be encouraging our school children to explore more sporting events - if only we had a big sporting complex to hold them!

We could host large sporting events - horse of the year, ice shows, even an indoor boat show - concerts and exibitions - the sky's the limit - think of the income?

Bournemouth has the BIC which is continuosly booked with major acts - we cannot host these acts as we have no facilities.

Even local businesses would support the arena as they too would benefit from using the facilty on occasions.

The only events Southampton seems to host are computer fairs and wedding fairs.

Come on, 2012 is not that far away - let's get our thinking caps on and make the wow factor a sporting facilty/arena - Dancing on Ice would be a participation sport for the youth in Southampton, after all it's a TV programme watched by millions.

Times have changed - the ice rink would be a fantastic opportunity to host lots of events and create more jobs and the idea that it would not be finacially viable would be the pipe dream. Let the youth of today have their promise of a new ice rnk - that would be a true wow factor!

MRS K BRICKNELL, Southampton.