VISITORS to Knutsford will have skating to add to their list of things-to-do this Christmas, if plans get the go ahead.

Proposals to stage a town-centre ice rink during the Christmas 2014 period were presented to Knutsford Town Council’s events committee last week.

Living Ventures, parent company of King-Street based Gusto, have indicated that they are willing to investigate the opportunity of establishing a partnership with the town council to deliver the ice rink, with costs and potential profits being shared. 

Following the meeting, Town Clerk Adam Keppel-Garner said: “A working group will be looking into the potential for an ice rink further and reporting back to the next events committee meeting.”

The town clerk was approached by Gusto’s business development manager, Steff Meachin, regarding the provision of an ice rink, with a suggested location of the Moor. 

In the agenda document, it stated that the idea was, in part, ‘sparked by the business community seeking to encourage footfall into the town centre and draw any potential visitors to the Mistletoe Markets (should it go ahead) through the town’.

Steff has researched the costs of hiring an ice rink for a three week period, commencing with the switch on of the Christmas lights until Christmas Eve.

A real ice rink was said to be ‘prohibitive’ – with a cost in excess of £100,000 – but a synthetic ice rink could be installed, with all equipment provided, for £20,000. 

The proposal also highlighted to members that a number of additional elements would need further investigation, including security, marketing, staffing requirements, permissions, power supply and lighting.  

Following the meeting, Steff said: “At this stage Living Ventures has not agreed or implemented anything, a working group has been set up to discuss the proposal further.

“An ice rink could be great for the town but at this stage there is a lot to consider including the logistics of it.”

What do you think of the plans?  Would you like to see an ice rink in town this Christmas? Comment below.