MULTI-million pound plans for an Olympic-sized ice rink in Bournemouth, capable of hosting national ice hockey and figure skating competitions, look set to be approved.

An outline application by Bournemouth council for a centre of excellence for ice sports at King’s Park in Boscombe will be unveiled at Monday’s planning board meeting.

Members are being recommended to give the go-ahead for sports and leisure facilities covering a 2.82 hectare site adjacent to the park’s southern boundary.

The centre would encompass an Olympic-sized rink, with seating for up to 5,000 spectators, other indoor leisure facilities including a climbing wall and standing surf wave as well as catering accommodation and changing rooms.

A flood-lit games area and synthetic turf pitches for football, netball, tennis and hockey are also being proposed.

If the plans get the green light, two existing football pitches will be relocated elsewhere in the park, between the existing athletics centre and Dean Court.

Thirty-one letters of objection have been sent to the Town Hall by local residents who cite concerns including the loss of open space and playing pitches in one of Bournemouth’s largest parks. Eight letters of support have been received.

In a report to Monday’s meeting, planning officer Julie Allington says Dorset police have not objected, in principle, to the development.

She adds: “While the footprint of the structure would be fairly large, the height would be comparable to the existing indoor bowling centre.

“It is considered that the overall size of the proposed structures would be acceptable and in keeping with the general scale of surrounding development and would not result in any harmful impact on the character or appearance of the area.

“To the north of the multi-use gaming area a large area of open space shall be retained for public open space and recreation purposes. This will minimise the impact of this part of the development on the character and appearance of the wider park.”

Planning board vice-chairman Cllr Ron Whittaker, who has campaigned for ice skating facilities in Bournemouth since the closure of Westover Road rink in January 1991, said: “This is our last and only chance to have what to many will be a long held dream come true.

“To have this facility, with all its supporting mix of sport and leisure facilities, it is necessary to make the whole project viable for a private developer and operator.”

Charles Hall from Burnham Development (Somerset) Ltd, which has been in discussions with the council for several years about creating the complex, said: “We are still interested but there is nothing we can say until after the planning board meeting.”

Read the planning report and see the comments submitted for and against the rink - click the link at the bottom of the story

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