Islington, Sobell Leisure Centre: Campaigners’ dismay as council set to turn ice rink into Active Zone

A north London council is set to refuse reinstating an ice rink present in the community since the 1970s, after it was badly damaged by floods last summer.

Campaigners had been pushing Islington Council to restore the Sobell Leisure Centre’s ice rink following a Thames Water flood in August 2022, which had left it wrecked and requiring repairs.

A decision notice from the council has now recommended plans to turn it into an Active Zone be progressed, much to the ire of those fighting to save the site.

In an online article, Cllr Nurullah Turan, Islington Council’s executive member for health and social care, wrote how a combination of financial pressures, including the fact the ice rink was losing money prior to the damage, and its environmental impact had informed the council’s position.

“Not reinstating the ice rink is an incredibly difficult decision – but it’s one that’s being made after very careful consideration, and having listened carefully to all the feedback we’ve received,” Cllr Turan wrote.

“Now, we’re looking forward to rebuilding a new Sobell Leisure Centre, that people from across the borough can enjoy using.”

Campaigners have responded to the news with dismay, and claim that the council’s decision was pre-determined despite consulting on the issue.

This is partly due to a recent Freedom of Information (FOI) request revealing a Labour adviser to the Town Hall, Charlie Rainsford, had privately said during the process: “We need to at least make it look like we are listening”.

Madeleine Beasley, a campaigner and figure-skating coach at the Sobell, told the Islington Tribune: “It’s very frustrating. We knew this would happen because it’s been pre-determined.”

Karen Coombes, a figure-skating coach at the Sobell, also told the publication: “The Labour councillors who believe the consultation was wrong, or anyone who believes the consultation was corrupt, how are they not jumping up and down saying this is awful?

“The soft play centre – it’s a fad. People come back 20 years later to skate. It’s a sport for life. Ninja parks are for the weekend with candyfloss and McDonald’s.”

According to the council, the plans for its Active Zone will enable it to deliver benefits to males and females equally, provide additional facilities for families, and introduce elements such as sensory features, including subdued lighting and tactile walls.

A decision notice outlining the recommendations states a decision is due to be approved on Wednesday, August 2.