Winter ice rink planned – for Shrewsbury Quarry
Monday 2nd August 2010, 9:30AM BST.
Shrewsbury’s Quarry could be turned into a “winter wonderland” after proposals were put forward to transform the paddling pool into an ice rink, it was revealed today.
A “vision for the Quarry” is currently being drawn up by town councillors and one idea they have put forward is to double up the paddling pool area in the park for use as an ice rink during the winter months.
Town councillor Miles Kenny said the new use for the paddling pool was an idea the council was considering as part of plans to make better use of the park.
Last week it was revealed the council was also considering allowing couples to tie the knot in the Quarry.
A number of locations were put forward including the bandstand, the Dingle and the area by the greenhouse.
He said: “We have looked at a number of items under the use of the Quarry. We’re coming to the end of the season for the Quarry as its use declines after the flower show but we could make better use of it and make it better value for money.
Weddings
“The greenhouse is Grade II listed but it’s in a poor state of repair, if it was improved maybe weddings could take place on the land next to it. That would be part of a larger package of uses for the Quarry.”
He added they were not happy to hear last month that a new multi-million swimming centre could be built at Shrewsbury’s Sports Village as a replacement for the Quarry Pool. The pool is run by Shropshire Council but staff also maintain the paddling pool on behalf of the town council.
Councillor Kenny said: “We wouldn’t be at all happy if the swimming pool was moved out of the town centre. The paddling pool is run by the same staff at the centre.
“We’re pushing for the pool to stay put and maybe for the paddling pool to be an ice rink in the winter.”
He said councillors would also consider how many food vendors would be allowed to trade in the Quarry at any one time.
The town council plans to draw up the vision in the autumn.
By Emma Kasprzak
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The idea of using the Quarry/Greenhouse to get married in, seems a nice idea….
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I wonder where they got the ice rink idea from.
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It’s nowhere big enough.How can you skate around without bumping into other skaters especially if you are a couple. Sorry, for me it’s a non starter. The original idea of having it in the square is much better and bigger too,
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Though it would look twee and Victorian to have it in the Square Edward, it blocks it from the many other uses the Square has.
The paddling pool area is a great idea and I am sure that there is the space there too. It’s not just a case of freezing over the paddling pool!
Someone has already suggested the heating of the new swimming pool can be also used for the freezing of the ice rink and it would be a more eco friendly solution but a councillor said that it was too expensive.
IMHO now all this money has been and will continue to be wasted on the theatre,it is not an option. The council just want to get the swimming pool out of the town so they can sell the valuable land it sits on.
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You wouldn’t be able to swing a cat on it , it is far, far , to small silly idea.
Square is the only place for it with xmas stall places under the market hall etc bit of imagination please not pound stretcher ideas , do it properly or not at all.
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i dont think the council has realy looked into this properly. the work needed to make this pool a temporary ice rink is unbelievable. you cant just freeze the water that is in the pool. it takes a long time and alot of work to keep the ice in good condition. i used to build a mobile ice rink and i know first hand the work needed to build and run such a scheme. if the council want to build and ice rink or get a mobile ice rink then i know how to go about it……..why not just freeze the river severn ay lol
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I do not imagine for one moment that the council were intending to freeze the paddling pool they were just considering the site!
On looking at it on google maps it does seem a shame not to find somewhere larger. I am sure this proposal will be hugely popular.
Perhaps the Abbey Gardens is a consideration though the trees may be a constraint on that particular site.
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The Square would be brilliant! It’d feel very Christmassy in the winter and surely serve to drag a few more people to the shops and therefore money into the town. Reminds me of the old Christmas Carol film. I really shouldn’t be thinking of winter now though….
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You are having a laugh, talk about a cheap option, the good people of Shrewsbury want it in the Square, it needs to be a pull for Winter tourism too.
I can just see the coaches pulling up on town walls, full of eager skaters coming to sample Shrewsbury’s latest attraction, imagine their faces when they see a frozen paddling pool.
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Thousands of people turn up for a very successful carol concert in the square each year,
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sounds good i would definately use that
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Good news about the positive attitude towards making the most of the Quarry, but the paddling pool is completely the wrong location for the ice rink – it’s far, far too small as well as being tucked away in one little corner of the park, bit off the beaten track; it would look like a poorly executed afterthought rather than an exciting winter attraction, and just won’t catch enough passers by. I agree, do it properly or not at all – the Square is the perfect location in terms of size, looks and attracting the most people, and it will look stunning.
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Really, you dont just freeze the pool, you freeze the surrounds too so it could cover all of the aorange walkway round the pool too and be much bigger. Ours in the market square, canada, is laid out on flagstone so you dont need a pool to freeze.
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How long before somebody decides this is a health and safety issue and we find a salt/grit bin at each corner?
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