MULTI-million pound plans for an Olympic-sized ice rink in Bournemouth were approved on Monday night by civic planning chiefs.

Despite objections from residents, an outline application by Bournemouth council for a centre of excellence for ice sports at Kings Park was given the go-ahead.

The centre would encompass a 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 with two existing football pitches relocated elsewhere in the park.

Thirty-one letters of objection were sent to the Town Hall by local residents represented at Monday night’s planning board meeting by Elaine Findlay from the Friends of Kings Park.

She warned that the development would increase traffic congestion adding: “Once this valuable area of green space is built on, it’s gone forever.”

Supporting the application, Richard Inskip said: “I think this will be fantastic for young people; it will give them something to do.”

Cllr Anne Filer said the Westover Road rink, which closed in January 1991, had been a “much lamented and much missed” attraction, adding: “This is something the whole town needs.”

But Cllr Mike Everingham warned that the scheme would “turn our historic King’s Park into concrete, pillaging and plundering Boscombe of its visual amenities, and result in a loss of open space.”

While supporting the scheme, Cllr Roger West said: “It’s extremely unlikely to happen. Ice rinks are incredibly expensive and it would have to be subsidised. There will be chaos on AFC Bournemouth match days.”

Council leader Peter Charon described the proposal as “hugely exciting and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity” adding: “In this current climate it would simply be too good to miss.”

Cllr Bob Lawton voiced concerns about the traffic implications, suggesting that bus companies should be encouraged to provide a service to the rink.

Moving the officer’s recommendation to approve the application, subject to conditions, Cllr Elaine Cooper said: “It’s going to make the park more open to more people. I think it’s a win-win situation.”

Seconding the move, which was carried by nine votes to one, Cllr Bob Chapman said: “Bournemouth desperately needs an ice rink; I think it’s the best site in town.”