Fresh bid is announced to take control of Ayr Ice Rink and save it from closure

Scottish Curling, in partnership with Glasgow Ice Centre, have tonight launched an offer to buy Ayr Ice Rink in a bid to save ice sports in the area.

The proposal sets out plans to keep the current rink at Limekiln Road open and functioning for "roughly the next five years" while a new facility is built.

Curling, hockey, and skating would all continue to have a home, and the rink would be open to the community.

"We’ve had extensive conversations with a variety of agencies over the past weeks and indeed months," said Scottish Curling CEO Vincent Bryson.

"We believe this collaboration with Glasgow Ice Centre, who are already a registered charity, is our best bid to keep Ayr Ice Rink open for the next few years and keep ice sports activities going."

Glasgow Ice Centre was founded as a charity in 2020 with the objective of seeking to "improve the health, wellbeing, and quality of life" of the population by introducing a wide range of leisure activities and ice rink sports, such as curling, hockey, and skating.

Alan Hannah, a current Scottish Curling Director and high-performance curling coach with a wealth of experience across the sport, chairs the Glasgow Ice Centre Trustees.

He said: "We are excited about the possibility of retaining ice sports in Ayrshire.

"Whilst our name contains the word “Glasgow, ” our charity was formed to act in the best interest of all ice sports nationwide.

"By making an offer for Ayr Ice Rink we are acting within the remit of our charitable aims, and I hope the offer is welcomed by the rink’s shareholders."

Alex Strachan, Chair of the Ayr Bruins Junior Ice Hockey Club, who has been campaigning to save the rink, said: “I am delighted that Glasgow Ice Centre have offered to help in our mission to stop the closure of Ayr Ice Rink and maintain the future of all Ice Sports in Ayrshire.

"There’s now a real drive from the local ice hockey, curling and skating communities to ensure that everyone can have access to the facility.

"It’ll make a massive difference to the 350 young people in the Ayr Bruins Junior Club who consider the ice rink a second home and safe haven.”

He added: “The intention and way forward is a viable and sound plan which will bring a new lease of life not only to the Ice Rink but the local community as a whole.“

Leah McGowan, President of Ayr Figure Skating Club and Heather Black, of Kyle Figure Skating Club, said in a joint statement: “Figure Skating has a long and proud history in Ayr.

"We want to do everything we can to ensure figure skating can survive and thrive in Ayr and that this beautiful sport continues to be available for all the children, young people and adults that call Ayr Ice Rink home."

In June, Ayrshire Live exclusively revealed how plans were drawn up to close the rink at the end of next month after owners, Ayrshire Curlers Ltd, blamed an "unprecedented hike in energy costs" for the hammer blow.

The move was met with dismay, prompting the launch of a petition which now has more than 12,000 signatures and nearly 1000 members on the Save Ayr Ice Rink Facebook page.

To sign the petition go to https://www.change.org/p/save-ayr-ice-rink?

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