Dudley's £9 million ice rink will move a step closer tonight
Plans to build a £9 million ice rink in Dudley town centre are expected to take a major step forward tonight when the plans will be approved in principle.
The authority’s cabinet will be asked to back plans to agree a deal for leisure company Planet Ice to build a 2,000-seater arena on council-owned land in Flood Street.
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Senior councillors will be asked to declare part of the Flood Street car park, opposite the Duncan Edwards Leisure Centre, as surplus to requirements.
If agreed, a planning application is expected to follow shortly after.
Council chiefs also hope that the 2,000 seater arena will become home to a new professional ice hockey team, as well as hosting other large events such as boxing shows or concerts.
The rink will be open for public skating sessions as well as for lessons.
Councillor Patrick Harley, leader of the council, said: “I have always believed that an ice rink would be a fantastic asset for the town and we are now closer than ever to making it a reality.
“I will be asking cabinet to back the proposals this week as for me it is a no brainer and something that can only be a massive benefit to Dudley town centre and our wider borough.”
He said that a planning application could be submitted within days.
The plans will be discussed in a behind-closed-doors session due to commercial sensitivities.
The project in Flood Street has long been hailed as the first stage of a major redevelopment in Dudley town centre.
Councillor Harley said the venue could be open within a year.
He said it would build on the success of the Fun City leisure complex, which opened last year, increasing visitor numbers and boosting the town cenre economy.
A feasibility study found the ice rink could attract up to a quarter of a million people to the town every year, creating more than 100 jobs and bring a £30 million boost to the town’s economy.
Councillor Harley said: “It will also create jobs for our residents, as well as giving us a state-of-the-art arena to host other events like boxing matches or concerts. The icing on the cake would be the creation of a professional ice hockey team based in Dudley for fans to cheer on."
