Fears over ‘lost generation’ as all but one Scots rinks remain on ice
● Rink owners say government funds necessary in order to reopen venues
Only one of Scotland’s ice rinks has re opened to the public since the Scottish Government gave them the green light to do so two weeks ago – sparking fears that the sport could lose an entire generation of Scottish skaters.
Dundee Ice Arena, which trains elite skaters including British champion Nata - sha Mckay, has opened fully, allowing public skaters onto the rink on a daily basis.
Meanwhile, Galleon rink, in Kilmarnock, has also opened, but to skating clubs and hockey players only.
All other rinks north of the Border – totalling around ten – have remained shut since March, with many still without a date of when – or if – they will reopen.
Rink owners warned that re - opening while social distancing regulations remain in place could be financially impossible without help from Scottish Government handouts, such as those given to the arts sector. Keeping ice frozen costs thousands of pounds a month, requiring large numbers of public skating ticket sales – and revenue from events such as ice hockey matches, which are currently suspended.
A #backontheice campaign backed by celebrity Scottish skate rand Dancing on Ice star Mark Hanretty saw the Scottish Government bring forward the date which rinks could legally open to 31 August, however, the vast majority – including rinks in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Fife and Dumfries – have still not reopened.
Hanretty warned that the continued closure of rinks could lead to the loss of a generation of “potential stars ”, who would move onto other sports if unable to pr actice skating. In Auchenharvie in North Ayrshire, hundreds of skaters have held protests outside their shuttered rink after management originally announced it would remain closed until January–with a temporary gym having been built on top of the rink. They have now been given a provisional reopening date of the beginning of November.
Parent Kate Lock, whose daughter skates four times a week at the rink, said young skaters were missing the community of their sport.
She said: “They love skating. It is a big part of their lives – it’s not just about being fit, it’s also being able to achieve some - thing and they form friends and bonds with coaches for life.”
Murray field Ice R ink in Edinburgh, which is privately owned, has not yet given any indication of a reopening date.
Managing director Richard Stirling said: “For us, it is a case of waiting and watching over the next few weeks until we see if when we can get up and running again. We have costed all of the things we would need to put in place, such as extra cleaning, a one -way system around the building and sanitising – but we have estimated it will cost £50,000 in start up costs, including getting the ice back down.
“They are giving support to theatres and nightclub, but sports facilities seem to be completely left off the radar.”