Frogmore Street ice rink scheme likely to get planning permission
A CONTROVERSIAL scheme which will see Bristol's popular ice rink demolished to make way for a new set of flats is likely to be given planing permission next week.
Councillors are meeting on Wednesday to decide whether the scheme to demolish the ice rink on Frogmore Street and replace it with new students flats should go ahead.
And planning officials on the city council are recommending that the multi-million project - which has been put together by Bristol based firm Unite - should be granted planning permission.
Unite announced it was closing the ice rink at the start of the year because it was no longer financially viable. And the firm has pressed ahead with plans despite the protests of various groups including figure skaters, customers and the Bristol ice hockey team the Pitbulls.
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Dozens of people wrote to the city council to oppose the planning application but it appears Unite will be given permission to press ahead with the project.
The ground floor of the building, which houses the O2 Academy concert venue will stay in tact but the rest of the concrete building is being demolished.
The concert venue would stay open throughout the creation of the eight storey building which will house 448 student flats.
According to the council's planning team even though the ice rink will be a loss to the community a report found it was no longer viable.
A report found: "The principle of student accommodation at this site is acceptable and does not conflict with the development plan and would provide a sustainable, location for students to reside at, particularly for those attending the University of Bristol.
Unite has also said that it hopes to improve the area around the building and make it more accessible to the public.
The rink closed its doors for the last time in October and work has already began on dismantling the facilities ahead of the demolition.
The ice rink played a vital role in putting Olympic gold medallist Robin Cousins on the road to success will be sorely missed by the current generation of young skaters who enjoy sessions on the ice – as well as their parents.
Mr Cousins grew up in Sea Mills and started learning to skate as soon as the rink opened. His career highlight came 14 years later when he won a gold medal at the Winter Olympics in New York.
The complex originally boasted a ballroom, nightclub, bingo hall, banqueting rooms and amusement arcade but most of the centre closed down in the early 1990s.
At the time a successful campaign was launched to save the ice rink and entrepreneur John Nike stepped in to take on the business.
The nearest facility to Bristol is Swindon but users have also been travelling to Cardiff.
The building first opened 45 years ago and was part of the Bristol Entertainment Complex. Unite has owned the rink for ten years and plans to develop the Frogmore Street building into student flats.
Comments
by Gazzabristol
Saturday, December 15 2012, 12:06AM
“A year or two back when the potential closure was first being discussed here I warned the supporters that their best bet was to abandon the city centre rink and devote their resources to working towards an out of town solution instead of the futility of defending the old dinosaur.
I pointed out that families, late teens and 20-something couples with money to spend prefer the convenience of free parking and good road links but the supporters said the city centre rink should remain open for the benefit of kids who cycle into town to go skating (if they even existed...).
Tell me guys, where did all the down-votes you gave me get you? How is the ice skating scene in the Bristol area doing?
In trying to retain a rink for a small demographic you ended up shafting everyone. Turned out that most potential customers don't want to take the bus or cycle into Bristol after dark.”
by PJB_1972
Friday, December 14 2012, 11:25PM
“You can tell it wasn't very popular by the absence of comments on the story.”
by Brennus
Friday, December 14 2012, 5:34PM
“PJB - yes it was popular, it had simply been neglected by its owners who could see a lot more profit from building yet more student rabbit hutches.”
by PJB_1972
Friday, December 14 2012, 5:05PM
“"Bristol's popular ice rink"
Not that popular, otherwise it wouldn't have closed.”
by bristolreded
Friday, December 14 2012, 4:40PM
“Spiggett, I do like the ideal of super tall building's but the selfish nimbys won't allow it so we need to fight them.”
by Spiggett
Friday, December 14 2012, 4:21PM
“-Why not build a super tall building to house all these (dwindling) students once and for all,
so we can retain our already, limited facilities?...”
by busmyc
Friday, December 14 2012, 4:05PM
“Yes, Bristol seems to be losing so much. I used to love going skating in the 60s and 70ss along with nightclub The Locarno.
Part of the the ABC Entertainment Centre on Frogmore St with the Cinema, Ice Skating Rink and other nightclub Raquel's. The Locarno did more gigs than act as a club. In the early days the security was done by Teddy Boys from the ice rink.
It was a great place to go and so much fun to be had for all ages under one roof. We need places like this again; it was a great part of Bristol which sadly has been taken away from us.”
by Spiggett
Friday, December 14 2012, 3:21PM
“-What's the Mayor doing about it?”