Town Hall unlikely to reopen historic ice rink after it was ‘devastated by flooding’

The ice rink after it was hit by a flash flood. Photograph: Islington Council

Sports fans fear they will not be able to get their skates on after the council revealed that a historic ice rink is set to close.

The Town Hall said it is unlikely to reopen the 50-year-old rink at Sobell Leisure Centre after it was badly damaged in a flash flood.

A main burst and water gushed into the sports centre, along with flats and businesses nearby.

The ankle-deep water wrecked much of the ground floor, including the rink.

Overall it caused an estimated £4-5m damage to the whole centre.

Leisure bosses fear that rebuilding the ice rink is not viable as it was losing £250,000 a year.

The rink was used by sports clubs including the London Yetis ice hockey team and the Sobell Slappers. It was also the venue for Saturday night dances and parties as well as casual skating and lessons.

A petition by ice hockey player Charlie Nevile has already attracted more than 2,700 signatures.

The petition states: “It is a fantastic public rink with reasonable prices for people to get into skating in all its wonderful forms.”

Nevile explained that the rink helps create “social communities and a place to use the ice for mental and physical wellbeing”.

It had 15,700 visits a year and was using 70 per cent of the leisure centre’s electricity.

The council said it was used by an average of 475 skaters a week, compared with 2,000 people per week at the trampoline park.

Islington’s associate director of green space, Andrew Bedford, said of the potential closure: “It has been well loved. It is something we are having to consider with regret.”

The aftermath of the pandemic and soaring fuel costs mean the council and leisure centre operators GLL think it is simply too expensive to rebuild.

They said a larger rink is due to open at Lea Valley and people can also use the ice rink at Alexandra Palace.

Mark Christodoulou, head of leisure at Islington Council, said: “Every nook and cranny of the ground floor was devasted by the flood. We had to peel back layer by layer to reveal the damage.”

He added: “The flood water was pushing the doors and buckling the doors.”

The Olympic-standard flooring in the sports hall was also a casualty.

Cllr Nurullah Turan, who has responsibility for health and social care, said: “The rink has already been destroyed by the flood.”

The council’s executive is “highly unlikely to reinstate the ice rink” when it meets on 18 May.

This decision will trigger a public consulation on ideas for the “blank canvas” space used by the rink, which could include a “mega adventure” play area with slides, jumps and climbing equipment.

Other plans include making a new baby and toddler section within the soft play space, upgrading the squash courts and gym, and increasing the boxing area.

The final decision over the ice rink’s future is likely to be made on 27 July.