IN MY VIEW: Derry deserves an ice rink

An ice rink would be beneficial to Derry in a multitude of ways. Namely, boosting the local economy. Dundonald is simply too far away for many people. An ice rink in Derry would attract far more visitors from the West and South-West areas of Northern Ireland. The influx of tourists would contribute to other businesses like hotels, restaurants, and shops. Hosting competitions, events and lessons at the ice rink would also generate revenue.

Ice skating is a fun recreational activity and can be enjoyed by people of all ages. Ice skating boosts physical and mental health, improves balance and coordination, and is a wonderful way to spend time with family and friends. An ice rink in Derry would give people the opportunity to ice skate often without needing to travel long distances.

Since there is no ice rink in Derry, there are no winter sports! Ice hockey, figure skating and speed skating are examples of winter sports that cannot be practised without proper facilities. Having an ice rink in Derry will encourage aspiring athletes to pursue their dreams. Residents will pick up new skills and hobbies due to having close-by premises. Over time, Derry could have its own winter sport teams and potentially win awards at national and regional levels!

The ice rink will need to be built somewhere…Where? In my opinion, the best place for an ice rink is the vast, empty expanses around the Pennyburn and Springtown Industrial Estates. A permanent rink should be built there as it's a suitably large area, with flat land, is already gravelled, has no previously constructed buildings, and has established road access. An unfortunate con of this location is how tucked away it is.

The possibility of a temporary ice rink in Ebrington Square again is mostly ruled out due to the new hotel…However, they could curb the market and attract more visitors if they owned the only ice rink in Derry. If an ice rink cannot be set up directly inside Ebrington Square, it could be situated slightly farther away instead. Perhaps the St Columb's Road entrance to the Park? The large green could technically be built upon but it's not that great. Many people walk that way.

A different approach could be in renovating dilapidated buildings. They have to be renovated eventually so why not just do it right away? For example, the Lisnagelvin Swimming Pool would be a good place but there's asbestos in the roof. That's an expensive removal job. More than likely, the building will be demolished and replaced by yet another ugly, grossly inflated block of apartments. An ice rink could do so much more for the community than copy and paste housing that demands ridiculous amounts of money for rent and mortgages. If the ice rink would be more suitable in the suburbs of the city, what about the Riverside Stadium in Drumahoe? The abandoned stadium is riddled with knotweed though which is a tedious and costly disposal.

Ice rinks are expensive to build and maintain, no matter what method you use. A slightly cheaper alternative to 'natural' ice are polyglide tiles. They are a lot easier to handle maintenance-wise and mimic real ice very well. The only downside is that synthetic ice dulls the ice skates' blades faster than regular ice.

In conclusion, an ice rink would improve Derry in social, cultural, competitive, and economic aspects. Would you support the installation of an ice rink in Derry?