PROTECT OUR ICE RINK -

Streatham Parliamentary Candidate Rahoul Bhansali and local activist Wendy Newall are seeking a guarantee that Streatham will continue to have an ice rink when work begins on the long awaited hub development.

Following a public meeting with Lambeth Council and their development partner, Tesco, Rahoul and Wendy are seeking assurances that Streatham will continue to have skating provision whilst more modern facilities are built.

Such an assurance was not given by either Lambeth Council or the developer at the public meeting, which was organised by volunteers from Streatham Action pressure group. The hub development has been on the cards for over a decade and Rahoul has also voiced concern that the long-winded process may be hampering investment in the south of Streatham overall.

Wendy said:

As a long-time user of the ice rink I think it’s terrible that our community has not had a guarantee that skating in Streatham will be un-affected by the hub development. We have some excellent young skaters who hope to qualify for the Olympic Games. They train very hard, with little to no sponsorship, getting up at all hours in the morning to use the rink. It will be a travesty if our promising young athletes are let down by the Council.

Rahoul said:

The ice rink is a major part of Streatham’s culture and in the run up to the London Olympics we must keep Streatham skating. Having recently met the guys from Streatham Redskins I understand completely the frustration they feel without a guarantee from the Council. If the arena were to close without replacement in Streatham, Redskins players and fans would have to stage home matches at facilities as far away as Haringey or the Lea Valley.