Tim lobbies Council for ice rink for Worthing
East Worthing and Shoreham MP has put forward plans for the development of an ice rink in Worthing. Based on the popular temporary ice rinks that have sprung up in other towns and cities, Tim has written to the Leader of Worthing Borough Council to suggest that it would be good idea to try and replicate this success in the town this winter.
Tim believes that the paddling pool adjacent to the Aquarena would provide the perfect winter-time site for an ice rink, particularly since it lies redundant during the colder months. He commented:
"I think an ice rink would be a fantastic asset in Worthing and it would doubtless provide local people, both young and old, with an exciting and sociable winter-time activity. I have been fantastically impressed by the success of these rinks in other areas and I don't see why the people of Worthing shouldn't also enjoy such a facility.
"I have written to the Council to ask for their thoughts on my ideas and would be very happy to work with officers and councillors on making a reality of them."
The full text of the letter that Tim sent to the Council Leader is provided below.
12th March 2008
Dear Keith
I was interested to see a report in the Worthing Herald last week about the popularity of a temporary ice rink set up in South Street Square. You will recall that I have mentioned several times previously my interest in being able to secure a permanent ice rink for Worthing which could become a popular meeting point and add to the attractions available for people living in and coming to Worthing.
In my various discussions with young people in the area the idea of an ice rink always comes very high up their "wish list." In addition the comprehensive survey carried out by the Worthing Youth Cabinet a couple of years ago overwhelmingly revealed an ice rink as the most popular choice of facilities lacking in the town. You may also have been away of the proliferation of open air ice rinks at various London venues over the Christmas holidays, such as Somerset House, Hyde Park and the Natural History Museum. Indeed I tried to take my family there but at each venue the tickets were already sold out and the rinks were a buzzing hub of people.
It would be great to be able to replicate that in Worthing and I think it would prove a great asset for the town. I have seen in Swiss ski resorts for example how local lakes are turned into ice rinks over the winter months with usually a minimal charge for use or the hire of skates. Invariably they act as a real magnet for local children in particular giving them somewhere to socialise as well as to do something which is healthy and acts as an antidote to boredom.
I have always thought that the paddling pool adjacent to the Aquarena presents an ideal location for such an open air ice rink. As you know it is extremely popular during the summer months with parents and young children yet out of season for most of the year it is redundant. How good it would be if for several months over the winter it could instead be turned into an open air ice rink run either by the Council or by an outside operator who could run it on a commercial but affordable basis.
Clearly the future of the paddling pool is tied up with the development of the Aquarena and can I therefore ask that this suggestion be put forward to the prospective developers as to whether it could provide a permanent feature as a core part of the rebuilding of the Aquarena? Given that the final replacement for the Aquarena is still a few years away once the site and development has been agreed I wondered also whether the Council could look into what it would take to redeploy the paddling pool as a temporary ice rink in time for the next Christmas holidays perhaps which could act as a pilot to see exactly what demand there would be for such a scheme.
I would be very grateful if you could discuss this with your officers and fellow Councillors and would appreciate any feedback on the ideas you might be able to offer. I look forward to hearing from you further on this in due course.
Yours sincerely,
Tim Loughton MP
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