Scots ice rinks close to meltdown

Magnum Leisure Centre could be the next ice rink to close

The majority of Scotland's remaining ice rinks are struggling to survive, a BBC Scotland survey has discovered.

Some of the country's biggest rinks have already shut down and there are fears that new EU regulations could put many more out of business.

Ice rinks in Aberdeen, Paisley and Prestwick have already been forced to close their doors.

Bosses at the Magnum Leisure Centre in Ayrshire fear it may be the next rink to go.

Aberdeen's ice rink is due to reopen in 18 months' time but campaigners fear a recent cash crisis at Aberdeen City Council could see it stay closed for good.

One ice rink operator told BBC Scotland they were "hanging on by a thread" and rinks across Scotland were facing similar financial problems.

Many of the local authorities and private owners contacted by BBC Scotland said they were struggling to meet soaring maintenance and operating costs.

Electricity bills are said to have increased by almost two thirds over the last two years.

We have Glasgow with no ice rink - there's no city in Europe, probably in the western world, of that size or even half that size which doesn't have an ice rink Archie Marshall Skate Scotland

New regulations from the EU will soon force ice rinks to change the type of refrigerant they use.

David Carey, chairman of the Scottish Ice Rinks Association, claimed the resulting bills would push more rinks into the red.

He added: "They will have to replace all of their refrigeration plant. Ice rinks don't make a lot of money and with the recent costs of electricity and water, they will go into a loss situation. Everyone knows exactly what that means - they will close."

Archie Marshall, of Skate Scotland, which represents the country's figure and speed skaters, said the country is in danger of falling further behind the rest of the UK and Europe.

He said there was no shortage of sporting talent in Scotland but competitors were already struggling to train due to a chronic lack of facilities.

Mr Marshall added: "We have Glasgow with no ice rink. There's no city in Europe, probably in the western world, of that size, or even half that size, which doesn't have an ice rink.

"You go across the world to Australia, obviously it's a great sporting country, Sydney and Melbourne have got multiple ice rinks in them.

"Glasgow doesn't have one, Paisley is now closed, Aberdeen may lose its ice rink. I think that tells you the whole story in Scotland."