Situated on a little used tennis court in Carlisle the new synthetic ice rink in Carlisle could possibly open at the start of March.
Hidden behind the large plastic tennis bubble in Bitts Park, the 28m x 12m plastic rink is not readily noticeable as you pass along the paths through the park.
This is the reason I have failed to mention it following my many walks around the area. I just missed seeing it.
So yesterday dad and I went for a walk to try and find out where it was and to get some pictures of it.
Carlisle ice rink
According to the Carlisle City Council website the open air rink is made from a synthetic nylon and offers a skating experience similar to being on real ice, especially for normal users.
The rink is still under construction with many of the component parts littering the work site.
Sadly the facility looks a bit small, maybe a token gesture to gain some points. Just like one of those facilities installed as part of a Sim Game that dad plays on his computer. In the game he creates a city by building things on squares and observes the reaction of the local population to the activity. In this case an ice rink for the Sims to play on.
Skate from March
In defence of the local council, they have to start somewhere and this is a way of testing local response. One advantage of this form of rink is that it can easily be transported to the centre of town for Christmas.
This is not the first time such a facility has been tried in the City. If my memory is correct, a rink was erected in the nearby Willowholme Industrial Estate around the time of the Carlisle floods. I am not sure what happened to it or why it is no longer open.
The nearest proper water based ice rinks I think are in Dumfries and Lockerbie.
The ice rink will be managed by Carlisle Leisure Limited on the council’s behalf. Some reports indicate it is costing the council £60,000.
The councils website explains that it will be open for fixed sessions during Bitts Park’s existing operating hours from April. However, a post on the Carlisle Ice Rink Facebook page suggests this could be as soon as March 8th.
Skating costs are expected to be £3.50 plus £1.50 for skate hire for a child and £5 plus £1.50 skate hire for an adult.
You can follow the progress of the ice rink construction on Twitter.
Until next time
Licks and wags
Charlie