Parents 'blindsided' by plans to scrap Time Capsule ice rink, impacting 150 ice skaters and hockey players

Plans to scrap an ice rink at a popular leisure centre have “blindsided” parents, who fear their children may face a 150-mile round trip to continue to play hockey and ice skate.

The Time Capsule in Coatbridge opened in 1991 and is home to a water park, a soft play area, a gym and an ice rink, which is currently used by three hockey teams, synchronised skating and figure skating clubs, and an inclusive group.

However, the space is at risk of closure, after proposals were put to North Lanarkshire Council to replace the rink with a soft play and padel courts, in a bid to increase revenue.

The future of the rink is due to be decided by North Lanarkshire Council on Monday, April 27.

SNP Councillors for North Lanarkshire have tabled an amendment to block the closure of the rink.

‘We’ve not been consulted’

Michele Harvey, who is a parent to two Lanarkshire Lightning Junior Ice Hockey Club members, told STV News that parents feel “completely blindsided” by the proposed closure, which would impact more than 150 budding skaters and hockey players.

“We have over 150 kids that are a part of our club,” she said. “This includes Learn To Play kids, all the way up to national-level players. If the ice rink closes, these 150 young people need to find a new home to continue their hockey careers.”

If the Time Capsule rink were to close, skaters would face a 150-mile round trip to Dundee Ice Arena or a 70-mile journey to Murrayfield in Edinburgh to continue their sporting journey.

Michele added: “Ice hockey is such a rapidly growing sport, that it’s unclear that these clubs would have space to accommodate all of our children.

Time Capsule is home to three hockey clubs. iStock

“Children thrive at our club. They are part of a community. The staff at the Time Capsule are excellent with the kids, and the kids appreciate them. The children, parents and families use other facilities so they contribute to the local community financially as well.”

For Jennifer Allan-Fella, whose child skates as part of North Lanarkshire Figure Skating Club, the proposed closure could have a “devastating” impact.

She said: “It’s absolutely devastating to have to break the news to your child that they may be forced to give up the sport that they have spent a long time learning, lose friendships made and effectively tell them their sport doesn’t matter.

“As a Coatbridge resident, this is a decision that has massive implications to the local area, and at a minimum, a public consultation should have been sought.”

Petition launched

Concerned parents are disappointed by the lack of communication regarding the plans to refurbish the leisure centre and the impact it could have on young people in the area.

A petition has also been launched, which has amassed almost 5,000 signatures in two days, calling on the local authority to “work collaboratively with clubs and the community to find a sustainable way forward”.

Michele continued: “There has been no consultation with the community at all, including ice users, and no consideration of alternatives.

“Instead of closing the ice rink, can it be regenerated so it does not run at a loss? The option of placing it in community hands or a local trust, or seeking funding directly from the Scottish Government?

Parents are concerned their children won't be able to access ice sports if the rink closes — Parents are concerned their children won’t be able to access ice sports if the rink closes iStock

“The report doesn’t consider the right of children in the local area to access sport and recreation and the impact the loss of yet another resource in North Lanarkshire will have on young people.

“We know that over 150 children use it to keep fit and socialise. What will happen when they have nowhere to go on Friday and Saturday nights?

“This decision seems very short-sighted given the issues with anti-social behaviour in North Lanarkshire and lack of other public resources for children.”

Fulton Macgregor, SNP MSP for Coatbridge & Chryston, said that SNP councillors in North Lanarkshire have now tabled an amendment to block the closure of the rink.

They said it would leave a “significant and damaging impact”.

A statement from him read: “Following on from my previous post I have now received hundreds of emails from people and clubs concerned about the proposals to repurpose the ice rink.

“I’ve been in touch with councillors and I’m pleased to say your voices have already been heard.

“I can confirm that SNP councillors in North Lanarkshire have today tabled an amendment to block the proposal to close the ice rink at the Time Capsule, warning of the significant and damaging impact this would have on the local community and on sports provision across the wider region.

“The amendment includes the rejection outright of any proposal to close the Time Capsule ice rink and an instruction to bring forward a future report identifying alternative sites for the development of padel and pickleball facilities, reflecting their growing popularity, without any loss of existing infrastructure.

“As SNP members make up eight places on the committee this is a very strong start. However, it’s important to keep going and email your local councillors and those members who sit on committee.

“Well done all for demonstrating such people power in such a short space of time! It’s clear how important and loved this rink is for many people.

“Hopefully on track to the right decision being made. Well done all and I’ll post further updates as I get them.”

Padel courts ‘could increase footfall at Time Capsule’

In a report, North Lanarkshire councillors say utalising £2.6m of investment which was approved earlier this year could be used to consider redeveloping facilities at Time Capsule.

It added padel courts and the proposed soft play could “increase footfall and ensure long-term community and commercial viability.”

The local authority added that new facilities would “deliver a trading profit which in turn will deliver an ongoing improvement in the overall financial position of the facility.”