Planned West Bromwich ice rink to spur 100 jobs

Sandwell's Council leader Councillor Darren Cooper has today revealed that the authority is in talks with a national company to run the new complex in the town centre.

If successful, the ice rink would open within the next 12 months.

Councillor Cooper said negotiations are taking place and plans being drawn up, although the site is yet to be confirmed.

However, a town centre location would complement the multi-million pound transformation that the town is undergoing.

Councillor Cooper, said today: "I have been having tentative talks about the potential for an ice rink to go into West Bromwich town centre and those talks are going well, but I cannot say anything more at this stage due to the sensitivity of it all.

"It is a national organisation that we are talking to. We expect to see it in place in the next 12 months, it requires some demolition to take place.

"It will create at least 100 jobs and they are the kind of jobs that local people can do.

"I should be able to make a formal announcement in the next couple of months."

He added the talks started after he initiated the idea with a number of companies.

"I put the feelers out there with one or two organisations and we got some interest back and had a meeting and it is looking pretty good," he added. If it goes ahead the ice rink will be the latest boost to West Bromwich town centre which is undergoing a massive regeneration.

The £200 million New Square development opened its doors last Thursday, bringing more than 1,200 new jobs to the town.

The scheme is anchored by Tesco and Primark stores and also includes an Odeon cinema, as well as shops and restaurants.