Work due to start on £4m Telford ice rink revamp

Telford's new look ice rink will reopen in October after undergoing a £4 million transformation, council bosses revealed today.

Morgan Sindall has been appointed as the contractors for the redevelopment scheme. The extension of the existing ice rink is part of the £250 million Southwater development. Work on the transformation will start towards the end of the month so that the ice rink can open in October.

The rink will be closed but a temporary one will be created in Southwater Square for the summer.

The scheme will include the construction of new soft play area and the refurbishment of the bar area.

It will also include the development of a new restaurant or bar, to the front of Mecca Bingo and Ten Pin Bowling facing onto the new Main Street.

It is hoped the scheme will create a vibrant street scene with the works increasing visitor numbers to Southwater .

Other leisure facilities due to open there include an 11-screen Cineworld cinema and seven national restaurants, including Nando's, Pizza Express and Zizzi's.

The ice rink building will also house an energy centre to deliver sustainable energy to the Southwater development.

Councillor Arnold England, for Telford & Wrekin Council, said: "This work will result in Telford having a fantastic ice rink that will be a facility for everyone to be really proud of. There is no doubt the rink currently needs some investment and I am delighted that we are now at a point where we are able to appoint Morgan Sindall as a contractor to do the work."

Julian Price, area manager for Morgan Sindall, said: "We are looking forward to bringing our expertise in constructing leisure facilities to bear on this development, which will provide people in Telford with a first class facility."

Permission for the refurbishment was approved by Telford & Wrekin Council in March. The rink, which opened in 1985, is one of only 56 in the UK.