U-turn will cost rink boss five-figure sum
15,000 TONNES OF WATER FLUSHED DOWN THE DRAIN
AFTER weeks of preparing to reopen, businesses are left digesting the news that they must stay shuttered for at least another fortnight.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson confirmed the planned easing of restrictions for casinos, ice rinks, bowling alleys and some beauty treatments would be delayed following a resurgence in Covid-19 cases.
Weeks after promising near normality by Christmas, Mr Johnson sounded a far more pessimistic note and confirmed cases of the coronavirus are on an upward trajectory.
Yesterday’s news will come as a big blow to the businesses that have been closed since the lockdown was initially imposed in March, among them a much-loved North East institution: Whitley Bay Ice Rink.
Operations manager Claire Cassidy is the fourth generation of her family to run the business over the past 65 years.
Speaking yesterday, she told The Chronicle that, while the business will survive the latest set back, it came as a blow: “Obviously we’re devastated. It’s very frustrating for the whole industry because we keep getting delays.
“Initially we were told we could open on July 10 and then that was pushed back to July 25.
“We were then told August 1 and now we’ve been told it’s been changed yet again.
“We’re frustrated and it feels contradictory that the Government
is promising to tackle obesity and promote healthy lifestyles but not letting ice rinks reopen despite the fact thousands depend on them for exercise.”
She added: “In March, for the first time in 65 years, we had to get rid of the ice.
“It’s a huge operation – you’re talking about literally flushing 15,000 tonnes of water down the drain. We’ve spent the past four weeks trying to refreeze it.
“Getting ready to reopen tomorrow has incurred big costs. We’ve brought staff back from furlough and switched on the refrigeration plant four weeks ago – that’s a huge expense, we’re talking a fivefigure sum. We’ve also had huge start-up costs to get the engineering done for the ice and yet now we’ve got no date to reopen.
“We worked non-stop to get to the point of being able to reopen tomorrow and now we don’t even have a reopening date.”
Another local business impacted by the announcement, Lane 7 bowling alley in Newcastle city centre, told followers on Facebook they were contacting customers booked up to attend in the next two weeks.
They posted: “As an independent business we greatly appreciate the support of our guests at this challenging and worrying time.
“The situation is extremely changeable we are monitoring it closely and will keep you posted.”