Ice rink installed at Oswestry complex

A businesswoman has started work to install an ice skating rink in her £2.5 million leisure and entertainment complex in Oswestry, weeks after saying she would walk away from the project.

Hotelier Stephanie Booth bought the former railway buildings, off Gobowen Road, with plans to transform it into an indoor play centre, cafe and wine bar.

Last month she announced she was going to walk away from the project during a dispute with Shropshire Council planning officials.

But after a meeting with the authority she has decided to continue with her ideas for the complex.

She said today that she was currently installing an ice skating rink and was aiming to open it to the public for the bank holiday at the end of the month.

She said: "The ice rink is being installed as we speak.

"It is in one of the Mclarens buildings and the entrance will be off the play centre.

"There are boots for people to hire and it will be £5 for two hours."

Mrs Booth also has a number of other plans for the site including moving the town's railway museum into one of the Mclaren buildings.

She wants to create a mini-station at the complex, to be called Mclarens Halt. This would be used for a number of activities including a Christmas event with Father Christmas arriving in town by rail.

She said they were expecting to get a steam engine for the tracks in September.

"It will really attract visitors and be a massive boost to the town," she said.

Other plans for the site include a theatre and cinema and facilities for professional performing artists to teach singing and dancing.

Mrs Booth has spent £750,000 on the scheme so far and created 75 jobs.