Council urged to save ice rink

From the archive, first published Wednesday 8th Oct 2003.

A national sports body has joined a campaign to save the threatened Sussex Ice Rink in Brighton.

The National Ice Skating Association has written to urge Brighton and Hove City Council to reopen the rink in Queen's Square.

Leaseholders Roy and Sherry Scott put the rink up for sale but no buyer was found and they closed it in May.

Now skaters have raised concerns that the rink, which is in need of refurbishment, may never reopen.

In a letter to council chief executive David Panter, NISA general secretary Keith Horton wrote: "We are extremely concerned ice skating may be lost to Brighton and Hove ahead of the opening of any new facility.

"Experience tells us that if an area is deprived of ice-skating, for whatever period of time, the general public will take up other recreational activities and possibly not return, even if a new facility is opened in the future.

"It would be a great pity if, as we understand for a relatively small amount of money, the existing rink could not be patched up and continue to offer an important facility."

Patricia Ginman, of campaign group Keep Sussex Skating, said: "This little ice rink is most important in the grander vision and developments of ice skating in the South."

Members of the group have been collecting signatures on a petition calling for the rink to be reopened and a skating strategy for the city to be drawn up.

NISA has previously lent its backing to proposals for a major ice arena at the Black Rock site in Kemp Town, Brighton.

The council has said prospective buyers have shown an interest in Sussex Ice Rink and were in talks.

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