Parents hit out over rink closure

May 22 2009 by Lorraine Howard, Irvine Herald

Parents demand an explanation over decision to close ice rink

FURIOUS parents have hit out at the decision to shut Irvine’s ice rink and are demanding to know why North Ayrshire Council and North Ayrshire Leisure went against the recommendations of a report on its future.

On Saturday, members of Magnum Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club joined the speed skaters and ice hockey teams to let leisure bosses know how angry they are at being frozen out.

Last month the decision was taken to shut the Magnum, open a new leisure facility based at Irvine’s Ayrshire Central, and upgrade Auchenharvie ice rink.

But groups who use the ice rink say this decision was taken without any input from them and goes against the findings of the controversial Genesis Report, commissioned by North Ayrshire Leisure and North Ayrshire Council.

The report recommended that:

l A new leisure centre be built in Irvine.

l All focus on developing ice should be in Irvine and not at Auchenharvie’s.

l The Magnum ice rink has five times more visitors than Auchenharvie’s with 100,000 last year.

l The new Irvine facility should have a full-size ice rink.

l Auchenharvie should be closed.

Parent Lesley Bovaird, of Irvine, said: “The figure skating club has, on average, 400 skaters on the ice a week, and the logistics of sharing ice with the people of Auchenharvie’s will be a nightmare.

“We also have Skate UK coaches, and along with the speed skaters and ice hockey teams there are enough people paying to sustain a new build 60m by 30m ice pad in Irvine.

“We cannot understand why North Ayrshire Council and North Ayrshire Leisure have taken this decision and are jeopardising the future of our ice athletes.

“It is outrageous and we want answers as they have gone against everything the report found.”

But this week, a spokesman for North Ayrshire Leisure said: “The decision taken by North Ayrshire Council to invest in new sport and leisure facilities to replace the Magnum Leisure Centre, including securing the future of ice in North Ayrshire, is welcomed.

“However, the company is unable to comment on decisions made by North Ayrshire Council regarding the detail of facilities.”