Temporary Rink Discussions: An Update from Full Council Meeting
At the recent full council meeting, there were discussions regarding the possibility of setting up a temporary rink in Basingstoke while the current rink undergoes repairs. Here’s what we know so far:
The report on the costs of a temporary rink was delivered verbally as the officers had not yet received all the soft quotes they requested. The quotes they have received so far range from £1.27M to over £2M for a real ice 20×40 rink, which would be in place for a period of 6 months to 2 years.
The motion was clear that they should meet with the ice users to determine what is needed. Unfortunately, the consultation only consisted of a request for information from me, rather than proper face-to-face meetings with the user groups. This approach resulted in wasted time, with unrealistic suggestions such as plastic ice being considered, which would never work in our situation.
While the officers wanted to compile the report without influence, additional conversations with user group representatives could have helped them gain a better understanding of our needs and identify a broader range of suitable suppliers.
There was considerable surprise at the cost of the temporary rink. While the figure seems high, it was expected. Councillor James has already indicated that he does not want to move forward with a temporary rink, a sentiment alluded to by Councillor David McIntyre during the meeting, though it went without response.
Can it be done cheaper? Possibly. It seems many reputable providers of temporary rinks have not been contacted, so we’re not sure whether the quotes received represent the best value. Some suppliers offer a turnkey solution to build and operate at a lower cost, and we are more than willing to help connect them with the council.
Current Status of Rink Repairs
The current rink repairs remain at a standstill, with the new lease still with Planet Ice (PI) and their lawyers. Officers are reportedly chasing them on a near-daily basis for progress, but we’ve been hearing the same response for months now.
In the meeting, Councillor James revealed that PI had expressed no interest in pursuing a temporary rink, stating that they want to focus on completing the first stage of repairs as quickly as possible to get users back in the rink.
Why a Temporary Rink Matters
One major concern is that no one knows how long repairs will take until work actually begins. If a temporary rink is going to be effective, it needs to be installed as soon as possible so it can cover the bulk of the rink’s closure period. The new lease could allow up to 15 months to complete the work, and there is no guarantee that the rink will reopen within a year.
If the closure extends beyond a year, many ice sports disciplines will have to start from scratch and rebuild. While a temporary rink might not help junior hockey in the short term, it could provide continuity for synchronized skating, group lessons, recreational hockey, and public sessions, which help nurture the next generation of ice users.
Challenges on the Horizon
Looking ahead, the cost of ice time with PI is expected to be just shy of £300 per hour when the rink reopens. If clubs don’t have sufficient members, they won’t be able to afford the ice time. By July of next year, if no ice is available, the Junior Bison will have to make difficult decisions about whether they can return on promises of ice time in September or October. The risk is that players will stay with teams offering hockey now, and insufficient numbers could lead to a much smaller program focusing only on Learn to Play and U10s.
This issue was raised in previous discussions with council leaders and cabinet member Kerry Morrow, who was keen to help but was quickly shut down by Councillor James.
The Community Impact
The feeling in the Residents Services meeting was that the council should help clubs financially upon their return. The post-COVID recovery was supported, and this rink closure is a similar situation. The rink has served as a community hub, and without support, the road to recovery will be long and difficult for all ice users.
It’s also worth noting that no other rink undergoing refurbishment has closed as the skating and hockey season starts without providing a temporary rink. This will be a challenge, especially when clubs cannot afford the same amount of ice they previously used. Without a “honeymoon period” bringing in new skaters, recovery will be slow.
What’s Next?
With no full picture on costs, nothing was resolved in the meeting. The report was sent back to the officers to rework with consultation from user groups, and the committee agreed to reconvene once the officers have a more complete report.
Most of the committee sympathizes with our situation and wants to help, but it’s clear that the leadership does not want to spend money to help us.
We will keep pushing for answers and solutions. Until then, we continue to advocate for keeping ice in Basingstoke and ensuring the future of ice sports in our community.
KeepIceInBasingstoke
BasingstokeNeverDies
Check out the video from the council meeting below for more details on the status of the rink refurbishment and discussions around the temporary rink:
