Cheltenham ice rink set to return for Christmas this year

A Gloucestershire town looks likely to get an ice rink again for Christmas this year.

Civic chiefs approved extending a contract for the ice rink in Cheltenham for another 12 months.

The ice rink welcomed 31,000 visitors and brought in £1.6m to the town's economy last year, according to council leaders.

Cheltenham Borough Council says £388,961 was spent to deliver the rink, not including staff time.

And while expenditure exceeded income in 2023/24 by £74,000, their forecast for 2024/25 shows a reduced investment of around £22,000 will be needed.

Council leader Rowena Hay told the cabinet on 2 April the ice rink set new standards for the town and the wider events industry.

She said the ice rink brought £860,000 in additional spend from visitors.

"New jobs were created during the Christmas period and other jobs were supported," she said.

"We pledged we would not use traditional diesel generators and we kept that pledge.

"Instead, with vegetable oil and battery-power methods, provided in partnership with a business in Imperial Square, we reduced the carbon footprint by a staggering 98% compared to the 2021 ice rink on the same time."

Zero noise complaints

Councillor Flo Lucas said some 600 children who would never have been able to afford to have that experience were able to go to the ice rink.

Councillor Victoria Atherstone added it was fabulous that there were zero complaints about noise this time around.

Cabinet agreed to lead on the delivery of an ice rink for the 2024/25 Christmas season and, subject to securing planning permission, approved extending the contract for delivery and management of the ice rink at Imperial Gardens.

Follow BBC Gloucestershire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.