Ice fans in cold sweat (From Basingstoke Gazette)

Ice fans in cold sweat

9:15am Monday 23rd January 2012 in Ice Hockey

ALL ice users – both skaters and ice hockey players – in Basingstoke can breathe a sigh of relief after fears surrounding the future of the Basingstoke Arena were dismissed.

They had arisen after Basingstoke was one of eight Planet Ice centres mentioned when HM Revenue and Customs issued winding-up orders against the company.

The other seven were Cardiff, Milton Keynes, Norwich, Gosport, Isle of Wight, Peterborough and Hemel Hempstead.

On Friday, The Arena Group issued a statement which said: “Mike Petrouis, previous owner of the Planet Ice brand, has been appointed to run the Planet Ice venues, safeguarding the jobs of the 400-plus staff and ensuring the continuation of the businesses.

“Mike Petrouis has confirmed that the current Planet Ice senior management team, headed by Group managing director John Neville, will continue to operate the businesses as usual.”

It means the leisure facility based at the Town’s Leisure Park will remain open – with skating currently very popular thanks to Dancing on Ice.