Bournemouth Ice Rink Plans Approved

Bournemouth's a step closer to getting its very own Olympic-sized Ice Rink.

Bournemouth Council’s Planning Board last night (Oct 18th) approved the development at Kings Park, subject to approval from The Highways Agency.

It follows years of trying to get an ice rink built for the town. John Beesley, Deputy Leader of the Council, said:

“Since the closure of the ice rink at Westover Road there has been a strong demand from Bournemouth residents for another ice rink in the town. I am thrilled that we are now one step closer to achieving this very exciting leisure proposal.

“The Highways Agency has already studied the Transport Assessment, and has requested some additional information from us which we will be submitting to them shortly.

Subject to their approval of the application we will press ahead with the next phase of the project to secure a private sector operator to fund, build and manage the facility.”

The ice stadium proposal includes an Olympic sized ice pad for recreational skating, ice dance, curling and competitive ice hockey, with seating for up to 2500 spectators.

The facility could also be transformed to cater for basketball competitions.

Other indoor leisure activities are allowed on site in order to make the centre as commercially viable as possible. Ideas so far include a climbing wall and standing surf wave, but this will be open to discussion with potential developers.

Externally the proposal is to provide a floodlit multi-use games area and synthetic turf pitch to accommodate six 5-a-side football pitches together with other public open space.

The facility would share the main Kings Park car parking area, which would be upgraded as part of the proposals, and there would be a service yard and disabled and drop-off parking.