Request for Review of Proposed Parking Charges at Ice Sheffield

We, members of the skating and ice sports community, are writing to raise concerns regarding the proposed introduction of parking charges at Ice Sheffield, operated by Everyone Active.

While we understand the need to manage parking facilities, we are concerned that the proposed pricing structure does not reflect the realities of training and participation in ice sports such as figure skating and ice hockey.

Ice Sheffield is not just a leisure facility — it is a key training centre for athletes of all levels and a regular host of national competitions. Many skaters, hockey players, and their families attend the rink multiple times per week, often spending between 4 and 7 hours per day on-site for on-ice training, off-ice conditioning, lessons, and competitions.

Under the proposed system, members would receive 2.5 hours of free parking. However, this falls significantly short of the time required for typical training sessions. As a result, regular users would face daily parking charges of up to £5–£20.

For those training 5–6 days per week, this represents a substantial and ongoing financial burden, in addition to existing costs such as ice time, coaching, equipment, and travel. For many — particularly students and families — this may become unsustainable.

Parents of younger skaters are especially impacted. Due to safeguarding responsibilities, they are often required to remain at the venue and cannot leave during training sessions. This makes it unrealistic to avoid parking charges under the proposed system.

There is growing concern within the community that, if introduced as planned, this policy may:

Reduce participation in ice sports
Discourage new skaters from joining
Place increased pressure on young athletes and students
Lead to skaters and teams seeking alternative training facilities outside Sheffield
Impact Sheffield’s reputation as a leading centre for ice sports in the UK
Ice Sheffield plays an important role not only locally, but nationally, including hosting events connected to British Ice Skating. It is essential that the facility remains accessible to those who rely on it for training and competition.

We are raising these concerns now, ahead of implementation, in the hope that a constructive solution can be found.

We respectfully ask Everyone Active to review the proposed parking policy and consider keeping parking free and stop people from abusing the facilities at Ice Sheffield. 
Introducing a validation system for those members and skaters attending training sessions or events at Ice Sheffield 
Developing a structure that supports the long-duration use typical of ice sports training

This is not a complaint against the facility, but a proactive request to ensure that Ice Sheffield remains accessible, inclusive, and supportive of its sporting community.

We are proud to train and compete in Sheffield and want to continue representing the city in a positive way. We hope to work together to find a fair and sustainable solution before these changes are introduced.