Plans to create an ice rink as part of multi-million pound proposals to revamp Shrewsbury’s Quarry swimming pool have been scrapped because it would cost too much.

Telford is the only town in Shropshire with a rink but council leaders said a second site was being considered because of the potential energy saving costs it could generate if combined with a swimming centre.

But Councillor Stephen Charmley, Shropshire Council cabinet member for leisure, today said the idea had now been ruled out after research revealed it would be far too expensive.

Calls for Shrewsbury to get its own ice rink were raised at a public meeting in the summer after residents claimed people were fed-up of travelling to Telford.

Councillor Charmley said: “We can rule the ice rink out now purely on finance grounds which has come up through a bit of research that has been done.

“A relocation or a rebuild is still open to debate but the budget restrictions we are working to wouldn’t be feasible. Plus the location of the one in Telford doesn’t really help it either.”

It is believed that hopes of attracting external funding for the project to include an ice rink could prove difficult given that there is already a facility nearby.

Three options having previously been suggested for the future of the Quarry pool including a refurbishment costing about £9.6 million, a demolition and rebuild for about £7.75 million or building an out-of-town site at a cost of about £7.6 million.

Mr Charmley said updated figures would be required as part of a review of the scheme.

The leisure chief said earlier this year that the pool was one of the top priorities for Shropshire Council.