Work progressing on Telford ice rink revamp
These pictures show the work being carried out as part of the £4 million project to spruce up and improve Telford's ice rink.
The skeleton of the new extension has been erected, and work is progressing to lay a new ice pad and give the inside of the centre a facelift. The extension will house a massive double-height soft play area, as well as a restaurant and bar.
And a new energy plant is being built to provide heat and hot water to the rest of the £250 million Southwater development.
The rink, which attracts 240,000 visitors each year, closed in May for work to begin. The ice rink is due to reopen in October, with the rest of the work on the centre due to be completed by the end of the year.
Ice rink manager Rob McClelland said staff have been impressed with what they've seen so far.
He said: "Staff and stakeholders have so far had an opportunity to visit the centre while the building work is in progress and see the development taking shape. I think that we can all agree that in one respect it was sad to see the old building change so dramatically, but on the other hand very exciting to see the start of this new phase.
"With the new layout starting to take shape it really is exciting."
The revamp, which is being carried out by contractor Morgan Sindall, will cost about £4 million and has created 29 jobs. Work is now taking place on the second phase of the project to redesign the inside and create new eating areas and children's facilities.
The rink was opened by HRH Princess Anne in 1984. Telford & Wrekin Council is upgrading the centre as part of the Southwater scheme, bringing it up to new standards which will come into force in 2014.
