THOSE hoping to see a new permanent attraction replace the Bournemouth Balloon could have a long wait.

For the past couple of weeks the borough's contractor has been clearing the remnants of the balloon's base and railings from the Lower Gardens, and the authority expects to have fully "reinstated" the area next week.

It will be restored to grass, although an electricity supply to the area will be maintained.

However, a Lower Central Gardens Trust board meeting on Wednesday heard plans for a replacement to the balloon have barely got started, and the site is a contender to host the town's temporary ice rink this Christmas.

Council parks manager Michael Rowland said: "We are going to be looking at what to do with the balloon site in future, whether to leave it as grass or as some people suggested in the Echo blog, put a new attraction in there."

He said "we will start as soon as we can", but said the department had yet to discuss potential schemes with the board.

Council events chief Jon Weaver said the balloon site was one of two possible locations being discussed for the ice rink this year, after its location last year led to some unease among councillors.

The other new location would be outside the bandstand, but of the balloon site option Mr Weaver told the board: "Planners thought that was a better location, in terms of size and impact, and it is not going to stretch across two sides of an arterial route."

Mr Weaver said four operators had expressed an interest in operating the ice rink this year, with two having since put in bids. He said both had offered to pay a commercial rent for the site which would be reinvested in other Christmas attractions elsewhere in the gardens.

As last year, the rink would be in place for 49 days.