THE leader of the borough council is encouraging the owner and operator of Basingstoke's ice rink to come to an agreement about how they are going to carry out repairs.
As previously reported, Basingstoke ice rink is set to undergo an upgrade programme this year which means Bison will skip the 2023-24 season.
The plan is to put together a team to compete in the 2024-25 season after the completion of work at the rink.
READ MORE: Bison to skip next season as Basingstoke Planet Ice plans upgrade work
Planet Ice chief operations officer Heath Rhodes previously said: “Given the work that needs to be done at the rink it seems to make sense to skip next season for The Bison.
“Whilst the legals with Basingstoke and Deane Council regarding the future of the rink are ongoing we are confident of a conclusion and until then it will be business as usual for our other users which include junior activity, Buffalo, patch, learn to skate, public skating and birthday parties.”
Former leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council (BDBC) Cllr Simon Minas-Bound said: “The council has been working closely with the operator Planet Ice to understand the works being planned, with a start date expected after the end of the ice hockey season in May.”
During a borough council meeting held on Thursday, July 20, Labour councillor Alex Lee asked for an update on the situation.
His question in the meeting’s agenda read: “In April of this year former leader of the council, Councillor Minas-Bound stated, in what appears to have been purely an electioneering stunt, that with regards to the ice rink, 'the council has been working closely with operator Planet Ice to understand the works being planned, with a start date expected after the end of the ice hockey season in May'.
SEE ALSO: Bison: Leaders question Basingstoke ice rink refurbishment plan
“We are now well into July with no timelines set for repair work. Can you confirm where we currently are regarding work being conducted, what and/or who seems to be the hold-up, and what can be done to encourage all parties involved to get around the table to sort this out once and for all?
The lead of the council Cllr Paul Harvey said he “recognises that the ice rink is an important part of the leisure park” and the council is “driving forward the Aquadrome” and looking at other potential facilities.
He added: "We are as keen as the ice rink users are to see the poor conditions of the ice rink addressed as soon as possible to ensure that it continues to be a key part of the Basingstoke leisure park. We are the freeholder of the land that the building sits on but we do not own or operate the rink. The only action we can take directly is to encourage the owner and operator of the rink to come to a formal agreement with us about how they are going to carry out the repairs.
“We want to move this forward as quickly as possible, discussions with the leaseholders and operators of the rink are continuing to agree on a phased programme of work that they will carry out."
Cllr Lee told the council “Planet Ice has gone as far as they can” with starting the repairs and has “contractors lined up”.
He added: “This poses a real threat to ice hockey in Basingstoke as junior and senior ice hockey will likely have to be disbanded.”
The council agreed to hold a meeting with relevant cabinet members to find a solution.
Planet Ice was contacted for a comment but it has yet to respond.
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