Petition and Facebook groups set up to save Streatham Ice Arena (From Your Local Guardian)

Petition and Facebook groups set up to save Streatham Ice Arena

7:30am Tuesday 27th October 2009 in

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Petitions have been set up to save Streatham Ice Arena, as concerns continue over the future of skating provision in the area.

Tesco has refused to confirm it will guarantee the continuity of ice provision as revised plans are drawn up for the Streatham Hub – a major redevelopment of the area around Streatham Station.

Campaigners working across political parties say the supermarket giant has backtracked on promises made when planning permission was given that the existing rink would not close until a new one was built.

The new state-of the art rink and leisure centre are part of the proposed development, that also includes some 250 new homes, a major Tesco supermarket, a 438 space car park, and a bus interchange.

But the development has been derailed because of concerns about the housing market in the recession, and revised plans will be drawn up by the end of the year.

Chuka Umunna, Labours parliamentary candidate for Streatham, said: “Our ice rink is one of the only permanent ice skating facilities in London and is a vital resource for the local community.

“As well as being home to Streatham Redskins who compete in the English National Ice Hockey League, it is also used by school groups and by skaters who hope to compete in next year's Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

“It is therefore vital that there is continuity of our ice skating provision in Streatham whilst the Streatham Hub scheme is developed.”

Tesco, which has recently announced £1bn a week sales and annual profits of more than £3bn despite the impact of the global downturn, has said it will not comment about the details of the plans while they are being developed.

Sign the petition at http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/keep-streatham-skating.html. A related “Keep Streatham Skating!” Facebook group has also been set up.

So far 700 signatures have been added to the petition and 750 people have joined the Facebook group.

A separate Liberal Democrat petition, which also calls on Lambeth Council to ensure ice provision, can be signed at campaigns.libdems.org.uk/icerink