BASINGSTOKE'S Planet Ice Silverdome has been ranked the third worst ice rink in the UK, according to a new study.
The rink scored a dismal 42.81 out of 100, trailing far behind Alexandra Palace in Haringey which was crowned the best with a score of 77.69, according to the research done by British gaming site Amazonslots.com.
The study, which indexed all 57 ice rinks across the UK, took into account 10 different factors.
Factors include; total number of TripAdvisor reviews, TripAdvisor rating score, total number of Google reviews, Google rating score, price per person, train station nearby, number of hours with rain possibility, average temperature, average visibility, average humidity.
Basingstoke's rink received particularly low marks for its overall condition, with both users and council officials expressing concerns about its deteriorating state.
READ MORE: Basingstoke ice rink future uncertain as upgrade plans stall
The news comes as plans for a much-needed upgrade remain stalled due to a disagreement between the rink's leaseholder, Standard Securities Ltd, and operator, Planet Ice.
The upgrade, initially announced in April 2023, was expected to see the Basingstoke Bison ice hockey team return for the 2024-25 season.
However, with work yet to begin, the team's future and the rink's long-term viability hang in the balance.
Residents and ice rink users have voiced their frustration at the ongoing stalemate, highlighting the impact of the delays on the rink's condition and rising costs.
Haringey's Alexandra Palace, Billingham Forum Ice Arena and Dundee Ice Arena are the top three ranked ice rinks in the country.
The bottom two are Lammas Leisure Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield and Planet Ice Bristol, which is run by the same group that manages Basingstoke ice rink.
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Reacting to the ranking, Basingstoke Ice Rink Users Forum chair Sally Cashman it was sad to see the centre's current state.
She said: "While the ice rink is still open and operational it is extremely far from an ideal state, which is very sad for all the users both past and present. We are awaiting news from Planet Ice regarding their plans for Basingstoke Ice Rink."
Leader of Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Cllr Paul Harvey said: “The ice rink is owned by Standard Securities Ltd and operated by Planet Ice (Basingstoke) Ltd as a commercial operation, not a public service.
“We are incredibly concerned about the poor condition of the ice rink and recognise the frustration of ice users. We are working with Planet Ice to understand their immediate plans for a programme of improvement works.”
Planet Ice and Standard Securities did not provide a comment.
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