Streatham Ice Rink could close within weeks (From Streatham Guardian)

Streatham Ice Rink could close within weeks

7:10am Thursday 15th October 2009

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Streatham's iconic 78-year-old ice rink could close within weeks with no timescale of when a new facility could open.

The shock revelation that the area could lose one of its most significant leisure facilities followed a crisis meeting between residents and developers over the future of the Streatham Hub development - already at least three years behind schedule.

A slump in the housing market caused by the recession has derailed the development - which includes some 250 new homes, a major Tesco supermarket, a 438 space car park, a bus interchange, and a state-of-the-art swimming pool and ice rink complex.

New plans on a revised scheme are to be drawn up within the next eight weeks.

But as dozens of concerned residents at the meeting demanded reassurances from Tesco and Lambeth Council the development was safe, Tesco backtracked on one of its original promises not to close the existing ice rink before a new one was built.

It also emerged a legal agreement between Tesco and the council guaranteeing "continuity of ice" had not been signed which means Tesco, which has leased the running of the rink to a private company, would be free to close it at any point.

This also means Streatham leisure centre - being run by the council but suffering from a similar deterioration of its facilities - could be forced to shut before the new facilities are built.

Residents reacted angrily to the revelations - and the suggestion the development could not be built during the recession.

Trevor Hutton, from ice rink campaign group Skaters 4 the Hub, said: "The situation for the ice rink is precarious. The building is crumbling and the minimum investment is being made in its upkeep.

"Health and Safety inspectors could come in at any minute and close it, and a new ice rink is nowhere near being built."

He said while Tesco was currently keeping the rink open, any major work needed could mean it is closed.

Resident Martin Godfrey said he did not accept the recession as an excuse for not building the project. He said an "unprecedented interest among constructors" to build the project meant building costs could be cut.

Many estate agents have also said the Streatham housing market is now booming.

Eoin Dardis, a Tesco spokesman for the project, said the recession had caused "big problems" and it was necessary to look again at "how the project could be delivered".

While he promised the "final product" would be the same - he could not confirm the same "delivery programme" nor the "continuity of ice".

Many people close to the project now believe Tesco will look to first build its store and the homes, which will finance the project.

The orginal building schedule stipulated construction work on other parts of the project could not begin until the new leisure facilities were standing.

Critics accused the council of being "held over a barrel" by Tesco in negotiations.

Lib Dem parliamentary candidate Chris Nicholson said: "If there is any suggestion of the ice rink closing, even for a short time, it would be a massive betrayal by Labour of their promises to the people of Streatham."

Labour candidate Chuka Umunna said "the continuity of our ice rink provision" was "fundamental to this community".

Lambeth's cabinet member for regeneration, Coun Lib Peck, said the council was still in a "strong negotiating position" with Tesco, who "clearly wanted" to go ahead with the project.

She said the council would continue to fight for the "best possible scheme for Streatham residents”.

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