'Let's look at rink'

BOSSES at a specialist ice rink firm are calling for a meeting with council chiefs to look at ways of installing a facility at Portishead Open Air Pool.Bristol based Stage Electrics wrote to the Portishead Times following our story on the open air pool seeking a meeting with councillors to discuss future options for the seafront attraction.The firm, which has its head office is in Avonmouth, is experienced in setting up outdoor ice rinks. It set up the popular rink at The Mall, Cribbs Causeway, at Christmas and has done similar projects right across the country.Stage Electrics head of production Ian Tregaskis said: "It is worth considering whether it is possible to utilise the pool and see whether it can be temporarily filled and a rink put over it. We have put rinks in fountains and ponds in the past and have also installed temporary rinks at sites across the country."It is definitely worth taking a look at the pool with the council to get some ideas together and to see what is achievable."The idea comes after the North Somerset Times revealed it costs £316,370 a year to open the pool for just 16 weeks of the year during the summer season.The pool, which opens between May and September and is run buy contractors DC Leisure, only generates £3,900 in revenue for the authority. The true costs of running the pool - the equivalent of £19,773 for every week it is open - were revealed following investigations by North Somerset Council Community Services Policy and Scrutiny Panel, which said the only way of reducing the costs of the attraction was to close it.Councillors suggested ways of opening the facility all year round should be considered, such as using it as an ice rink or a skatepark.The suggestion will now go forward to North Somerset executive committee for further discussion.