Plans for Oswestry Christmas ice rink
Monday 4th July 2011, 7:04PM BST.
Plans have been launched to install an ice rink in Oswestry town centre this Christmas.
Town council chiefs say the rink could be sited at Festival Square or Central Car Park and provide a huge draw for Christmas shoppers during the festive season.
Councillors will be asked on Wednesday whether they support the idea and whether the council should offer free use of the rink to the public.
Town council events manager David Clough says in a report to councillors he had been investigating the possibility of having an ice rink in Oswestry for one night during this year’s Christmas Live celebrations.
The council backed Christmas Live event attracts thousands of people to the town in December and in past years has featured amusement rides, a music stage at Festival Square, street entertainment and late night shopping.
Mr Clough said an ice rink could also play a part in the evening’s activities.
He said one day’s hire of a high-tech polyethylene synthetic ice rink, which holds 25 skaters at a time, would cost £1,650 on a week day.
Mr Clough said: “If Festival Square is the chosen area the ice rink could replace the live music stage which would off-set the ice rink expenditure as the current costs for stage hire, band fees and generator hire is approximately £1,950. The price of the ice rink hire could also be reduced by the sale of the rink tickets or by sponsorship.
“Alternatively the use of the rink could be offered as a free but managed activity to the public. It is recommended that the time slots are 30 minutes per skater which would be managed by the staff.”
Councillors will discuss the plans at their markets and car parks committee meeting at the Guildhall at 7pm on Wednesday.
UK News
Most Commented
- Clampdown on Shrewsbury chuggers
- Bishop's gay marriage views do nothing to support bible teachings
- Planners ordered to stay on Newport visit bus
- Letter: Angered by close encounter of the furred kind
- Letter: Alcohol price plans annoy me
- Shrewsbury’s broadband speed one of slowest in UK
- Letter: No sense in overseas job adverts
Shropshire Star on Twitter
Keep updated with the latest breaking news and content on our Twitter feed.
Lifestyle
Interactive Dining Out map
Hundreds of reviews by the Shropshire Star and Express & Star's teams to help you decide where to eat.
Entertainment
All the film reviews
Before you plan a trip to the pictures, get our critics' verdicts on all the latest movie releases.
OUR NEW APP
Get the new Shropshire Star app
Download the Shropshire Star’s new app to your iPad or iPhone to get one week of access to our digital newspapers absolutely FREE.
shropshirestar.com
Popular sections
Useful links
What a fantastic idea! Can see it already – just hope they haven’t chopped down the trees so we can hang the Xmas lights – that would look wonderful.
Go for it Town Council!
Report abuse
In regards to christmas live one thing that would be good to change would be the time they switch the christmas lights on, how about changing to 7pm like most other towns, not 3pm in the afternoon when its still light.
Report abuse
And when most of us are also still at work!!!!
Report abuse
Synthetic rinks are awful! It’s much harder to skate on them than ice. Portsmouth had one last Christmas and it was a flop, although the weather played a part in that. If you want a skating rink, go for the real deal and get ice.
Report abuse