West Bromwich car park to be turned into ice rink

Sandwell Council is in talks with a national company to run the new complex in the town centre and the Queens Square car park has now been identified as the best location.

Council chiefs plan to sell off the car park, paving the way for the development to go ahead.

If approved, the demolition of the car park will start in spring next and development of the ice rink would begin in the autumn. It is hoped the building would be open by the end of 2015.

An ice rink would transform a town centre and bring thousands of families in, council chiefs said today.

If approved, the demolition of the car park will start in spring next and development of the ice rink would begin in autumn. it is hoped the building would be open by the end of 2015.

Deputy council leader, Councillor Steve Eling, said: "I think the ice rink stands a good chance of going ahead.

"This is a proposal by a major ice rink operator so we are not talking about something speculative – the company has approached us for a site. I think it is very promising.

"Clearly there would still be a fair amount of detail to be dealt with and a number of decisions to be talked through, but it looks like something that is very much on the cards.

"It will be another attraction for people to come in to the centre of West Bromwich for and if they come to an ice rink the likelihood is they are going to use other things such as cafes and pubs and spend money in shops.

"It is right in the town centre by Queens Square and New Square so the location for it would be fantastic."

The car park was built in the early 1970s and is in need of significant investment. The top two floors require major repairs and have not been in use for a number of years.

Steel within the concrete is rusting, causing structural weaknesses and the long term future of the car park has been under review for a number of years by the council.

If it goes ahead, the development will be the latest boost to the town which has undergone redevelopment worth hundreds of millions of pounds in recent years.

The £200m New Square development opened earlier this year. It is co-anchored by Tesco Extra and Primark and also includes popular high street stores such as Next, Sports Direct, JD Sports and outfit, as well as an Odeon cinema. It also includes a Greggs, Harvester, Real China, Nandos and Prezzo, and a new Odeon Cinema. H&M, River Island and Schuh will also be opening stores at the development.