Keep Sussex Skating Association is appealing for a temporary ice rink for the city of Brighton and Hove as a feasible stop-gap measure to address the present ice skating problem while the final go-ahead for the Black Rock project is sought.

Selma Montford (Letters, May 14) is correct to remind readers of Brighton and Hove City Council’s dilemma of needing to balance the books and avoid cutbacks. However, let’s have a balanced view. Recently during a news report from Brighton, a TV presenter stated the city enjoys 8m visitors generating revenue of £400m from tourism alone. Surely a small portion of such revenue directed towards a temporary rink for the skaters and visitors would be appropriate and justified?

Any local indoor ice rink would be a sell-out success. The council has a responsibility to balance its books, but it also must preserve the heritage of our city. The Argus reports (May 16) that the council paid some £40,000 of tax payers’ money towards repairing a listed residential property in the city. Councillor Geoffrey Theobald said the council is protecting the city’s heritage, but this expenditure will only benefit the freeholder and neighbouring residents of the property.

By contrast, any investment directed towards a temporary ice rink would repair the mountainous injustice to skaters in the city and will reinstate its fine ice skating heritage, benefiting thousands of skaters from all over Sussex. It will provide revenue for the city’s coffers and attract tourism to our popular resort.

Patricia Ginman
Keep Sussex Skating, Varndean Road, Brighton