USERS of Basingstoke’s ice rink have been left frustrated at not being given the opportunity to put questions about the facility to Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Members of the Basingstoke Ice Rink Users Forum had hoped to have an update regarding progress being made about the future of an ice rink in the town at a community, environment and partnerships (CEP) committee meeting next week.

However, the borough council has taken the decision to council the meeting as the ice rink update was the “only item on the agenda”.

Chair of the Ice Rink Users Forum Stewart Tempest said: “It seems prorogation is catching on as a tool to stop debate on important local issues as well.

“It appears there is nothing to put on the agenda apart from the Ice rink update, so there will only be a written report sent to CEP members on the Ice Rink and no CEP meeting will be held.”

He added: “Our local council don't deem it important enough to meet and discuss the Ice Rink.

“Being given no information simply leads to suspicion and rumour which our current situation could do without.”

Brighton Hill South ward councillor, Cllr Kim Taylor, who is a member of the CEP, echoed the frustrations of the user’s forum.

She said: “I am very unhappy this meeting has been cancelled because time is not on our side when it comes to moving this forward with the ice rink.

“As far as I’m concerned the ice rink should be on the agenda every month to give councillors and users an update and to say it is the only item on the agenda as an excuse is ridiculous.”

She added: “We know that there has been a stakeholder meeting and in my opinion we should be being told what was discussed at that meeting.”

As previously reported in the Gazette, the borough council has appointed architects Stride Treglown to carry out work on provisional sites that could house a new or temporary ice rink.

Leader of the borough council, Cllr Ken Rhatigan said: “We want to keep a modern ice rink in Basingstoke and to do this as soon as possible.

“In order to do this, we are looking at council-owned sites in the borough that have the potential to accommodate a temporary or permanent solution.

“We have appointed architects Stride Treglown to carry out further work on the three sites identified to see if this would be possible and they will be updating councillors on this work at a meeting of the Community, Environment and Partnerships Committee meeting on Wednesday, October 23.”

He added: “I understand the passionate commitment of the ice users’ forum as we know the importance of the ice rink to the town.

“We are committed to working closely with the ice users’ forum and would welcome any questions they might have.”