CIVIC chiefs have said that they welcome plans for projects such as a £20million permanent ice rink in Winchester after initially casting doubt on the idea.

The plans, revealed in the Chronicle last week, outlined the vision to bring the first Olympic-sized rink on the south coast to Winchester, as well as a 120-bed hotel, restaurant, coffee house and convenience store.

There would also be tenpin bowling and indoor caving featured within the arena development.

Privately-funded by company Aethos Developments, the project, estimated to cost £20million, would be located at the council-owned depot site on Bar End Road, near to the planned Winchester sports and leisure centre.

Following a statement issued by Winchester City Council last week, which stated that the land was not on the market, a spokeswoman told the Chronicle: “As part of the development of a brand new sport and leisure centre... organisations have been invited to make comment on the emerging urban design framework (UDF) for the site at Bar End.

“We understand that Aethos Developments are proposing a development on the depot site which would be adjacent to the new sport and leisure centre. We welcome approaches such as these and are looking to the evolving UDF to scope the future of the whole area.”

However, the spokeswoman repeated that the site is not currently up for sale, adding: “No negotiations have taken place to date with Aethos Development to secure the site for their proposed facilities.”

She added: “Any future development would be subject to the land being marketed for sale or lease and the submission of a planning application.”

As previously reported, those behind the project say the site would be self-sufficient in power but will also provide the new leisure centre with sufficient power to heat the swimming pools and buildings, which, it is claimed, will save the local authority £200,000 year in running costs.

Edna Boden, representing the Winchester Ice Sport Association, said: “We strongly support the proposals. Winchester is a thriving, vibrant, expanding city with an exploding student population, all these people need somewhere to go and something to do. The Winchester ice rink will offer so much to the community.

“Not only is this £20m project for the depot site being offered absolutely free to Winchester, it comes with the added bonus, via heat exchange, of approximately £200,00 per annum to assist with the running costs of the new leisure centre at Bar End.”

However, the plans for a Winchester ice rink follow a number of failed bids to bring ice rinks to the south coast.

In 2013, Eastleigh Borough Council immediately shelved plans for a new rink in the town when the issue was raised at a council meeting due to it not being viable.

Developer Colin Warburg also submitted plans to build a £10m ice rink in Southampton back in 2010, only for them to fall through two years later due to lack of funding.

# What do you think about the plans to bring a permanent ice rink to Winchester? Let us know by emailing letters@hampshirechronicle.co.uk or write to 5 Upper Brook Street, Winchester, SO23 8AL.