Trafford | Archive | 2002 | January | 29
From the Messenger Series, first published Tuesday 29th Jan 2002.
THE chairman of a Trafford voluntary group has hit out at plans to close Altrincham Ice Rink.
The privately owned building was put up for sale in December and a housing development could be built on the site.
Fred Waters, the chairman of Old Trafford Community Development, is throwing his weight behind a campaign to keep the rink open.
And he is calling on residents throughout the borough to support the campaign. He says the closure of the rink would deprive Trafford of a well used and popular facility and the Aces ice hockey teams will be "thrown on the scrap heap."
He says: "I wish to voice my concerns for the junior and senior teams as well as parents and children who spend nights out at Altrincham Ice Rink.
"The Aces senior ice hockey team, who play their home games in the national senior league at Altrincham, have done exceptionally well this year. They play teams from all over Britain, from Ayr in Scotland down to London.
"There is always a good turn out of supporters and they have been a pleasure to watch. There are also junior teams, under 10s, under 12s, under 14s and under 18s. These ice hockey teams are going to be thrown on the scrap heap. Even the 10 professionals that give children ice skating lessons will be out of a job.
"It is a shame because it is a well used facility for local children, as well as colleges and schools. Its closure will leave children and young people with nothing to do. All in all, there must be more than 10,000 people who use the rink each week. If it closes the nearest ice rinks are 27 mile away in Blackburn or 36 miles away at Flintshire in Wales."
He adds: "I urge everyone to support this campaign to keep Altrincham Ice Rink open until another rink is made available in Trafford by getting in touch with their local councillors."
A joint bid for lottery funding by Trafford Council and the rink owners, to build a new rink in Altrincham, failed in the late '90s.
© Newsquest Media Group 2008