First obstacle seems to be that the council claim that [Planet Ice say that(?)] the rink is uneconomic. You seem to have had a good response, but from experience petitions, sadly, don't really count for much. You need an action group which gets some hard facts instead of emotions.
On the contrary - John Neville stated in a meeting with us that site has been profitable..
Statement from Planet Ice:
"The current landlord Capital & Regional have served notice on us forcing us to close as we understand that they have sold the site to Tesco Pension Trust Ltd on a conditional basis. We have known for some time now that this day will come and its particular disappointing that both sites will close their doors permanently as there is no intention to provide either an ice rink or water fun activity facility at the redeveloped site. As councils in the UK fight to gain leisure facilities such ice rinks and swimming pools it’s rather sad that Dacorum council has assisted this redevelopment by removing long standing covenants which has actively encouraged the closure."
And Council:
Statement from Dacorum Borough Council:
"Operators were not willing to take the ice rink on as it was simply not making money, but we didn't want the site to sit empty and unused. There was... really no alternative but to lift the covenant which tied the land use to the ice rink.”
"The lease was signed nearly 20 years ago when leisure provision was very different, and contains a condition that we shouldn't hold back landlord consent as long as we were satisfied with their reasons for development.”
"We are confident that the landlord Capital and Regional have made the correct commercial decision and the regeneration of Jarman Park is a key part of our exciting plans for Hemel Hempstead."
And Capreg:
Statement from spokesperson for Capital & Regional:
“The proposals for Jarman Fields will provide a long overdue, modern, twenty-first century leisure venue for the people of Hemel Hempstead. This will include the creation of a new restaurant quarter supporting the existing cinema, along with a new gym and bowling alley.”
“Sadly, the ice rink is not economically sustainable and, as a result, it is not possible to retain it as an ongoing part of the development. We have worked hard to find alternative uses for the site and strongly believe that the completed development will make a significant contribution to the leisure facilities available to the wider community in Hemel Hempstead.”
And
Statement from Tesco Pension Trust:
"The property is currently owned by Capital & Regional who introduced Tesco Pensions Trustees as potential investors to the proposed leisure centre redevelopment. At this point, plans had already been approved by the local planning authority. The Pension fund had no involvement in the decision about the proposed development, which included removal of the ice rink. The ice rink tenant had been in Administration and the operation was deemed unviable prior to our involvement."
And please again, sign our petition even if you don't live in the area or never skated in Jarman Park. More support we can show - more chances to keep it open or find investments.
Thanx Santa
