Campaigners fighting for a guarantee Streatham Ice Rink will stay open have turned up the heat on owners Tesco.
Residents have attacked the supermarket giant for blaming the credit crunch on its decision to delay and modify the Streatham Hub development.
Campaigners say this stance is not acceptable when interim results published in October show the supermarket has gross pre tax profits of £1.4bn, up 1.5 per cent on the previous year.
The firm's income from sales and the value of dividends paid out to its shareholders are also up 9 per cent.
Campaigners say with these profits, Tesco should not be allowed to revoke a promise guaranteeing the current ice rink will remain open until a new state-of-the-art rink is built as part of the development.
Labour parliamentary candidate for Streatham, Chuka Umunna, said: “Tesco’s colossal profits could pay for a new ice rink many times over so there is no excuse for failing to guarantee it will stay open whilst a new one is built.”
Tesco is set to announce its new plans for the hub – which includes a major supermarket, residential development and leisure centre – by the end of the year.
A Tesco spokesman said: "The recession and the collapse of the housing market have forced Tesco to review the proposals for the Streatham Hub scheme.
However, Tesco remains committed to delivering the scheme in Streatham and is working closely with Lambeth Council to find a way forward."
But Streatham resident Georgia Hinault said Tesco was putting the future of ice skating in south London at the mercy of its “so called 'economic downturn'”, while Eleanor Brooke, who campaigned as a 10-year-old in 2000 said she was “outraged”.
Judith Koral, mum of Streatham Redskins captain, Ed Koral, said: “For my son, as well as for the many other children the club serves, having a commitment to hockey has kept him off the street.
“To close this facility without building a new rink first will mean that Streatham will become another Richmond in that it will have no rink. The knock on effect for the regeneration of the whole area does not bear thinking about.”
So far over 1,600 people have signed Mr Umunna’s petition while more than 1,300 people have joined his “Keep Streatham Skating!” Facebook Group.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here