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People of Bassetlaw, for far too long everyone has complained about the misuse of the proposed "Tesco superstore site". Whether it be the careless destruction of public footpaths or the disruption to the local residents due to now pointless construction. Years have passed since announcements for the supermarket were made and in January 2015 it was revealed that the land will lie empty for the foreseeable future. However this is one of many potential sites across the town where development should be taking place! Tesco payed a substantial amount of money for the land (£10mil +), but where has that all gone? No major new facilities have since been provided.

In 2008 a temporary ice rink came to Bassetlaw for the weekend at North Notts Arena and was visited by over 450 people! 

450 People Skate in Worksop - Worksop Guardian

With regard to the site "Many felt it was the wrong place for a big supermarket but leaving things as they are is not an option" - Worksop Guardian

Whilst this would be an ideal location, there are many others!

Money must be available for development from the council/local authority as they recently considered plans for building the town a second football ground at the Vesuvius site even though the new build was to be of a lower capacity than the current ground. It was rumoured to cost approx £750,000, though no further announcements/developments have been made on that front.

Why not have an ice hockey team everyone can get behind!?

Plans are being discussed for a retail park or additional housing BUT the town of Worksop and more importantly the whole district of Bassetlaw would thrive should an ice rink be built. Why? 

• Ideally located, no more than 10 minutes walk into the town centre and just 30 seconds from the train station. 
• Growing national focus on fitness, exercise and well being
• It offers the people of the town and surrounding villages something different
• Boosts visitors to the town and improves the local economy, an ice rink gives people a reason to visit and then come back again
• Compliments the local cinema as the area would offer multiple activities
• Creates jobs for young people in the area
• Land size is adequate for a full size ice pad to be built plus sufficient car parking spaces
• Easy transport links to the A1/M1 motorways for people travelling from outside of town
• Accessible to anyone across the whole district and surrounding area

It is important to address concerns that Worksop would not be able to support an ice rink, but I am confident that the rink would thrive in our community. Some examples include:

1. Widnes (Population 58,300 as of 2010) saw the rapid formation of a team who already managed to finish 4th in a league of 10 teams after having only been built very recently.
2. Cannock (Population 29,018 as of 2011) has managed to sustain an ice rink for a number of years, despite it being unsuitable to play ice hockey on. It is very popular with figure skaters and those going just to simply skate. 
3. Billingham (Population 35,765 as of 2006) sporting a senior ice hockey team with several junior teams down to under 12's level along with public skating session and patch ice for figure skaters.
4. Dumfries (Population 43,600 as of 2001) hosted several international ice hockey tournaments/games as well as boasting a state of the art curling rink.

Worksop (Population 44,790 as of 2012) situated in Bassetlaw (Population 107,700) is more than adequate to support an ice rink. 

Residents of surrounding towns particularly Retford (21,000) plus Newark (35,000), Lincoln (95,000), Chesterfield (70,000), Mansfield (100,000) are all potential visitors and continual users of Worksop ice rink, keen to try out figure skating, curling or ice hockey. Not to mention Doncaster, Rotherham and Sheffield all situated in South Yorkshire. There's over 1,000,000 potential visitors!

The closest ice rink at Sheffield is beginning to strain under continually increasing demand with an ice hockey team playing out of the rink at every level plus having to cater to all other ice users. The nearby location of Worksop would attract players/skaters due to the volume at the Sheffield rink, not to mention the Sutton-in-Ashfield team who currently have to play out of Sheffield due to their rink being to small for senior ice hockey. Plus people in the city of Lincoln where there is no permanent ice facility.

Not only would an ice rink benefit all the residents of Bassetlaw but people from even further afield! This is the kind of facility that will put our area on the map! The only ice rink in Lincolnshire, in Grimsby leisure centre, is set to close.

Ice rink activities

• Ice hockey
• Figure skating
• Short track speed skating
• Syncronised skating
• Curling
• Sledge hockey
• Public/recreational skating

What else could an ice rink offer?

• Sports bar
• Cafe
• Climbing walls
• Conference suites
• A gym facility
• Host to tournaments

Why did I start this petition? 

Born and raised in Worksop, I know there is a lack of facilities in this town for young people and for a long time people have complained, but this is an opportunity we can all get behind. An ice rink offers so much opportunity, not only from a sporting but also a leisure perspective. Ice skating is a fun, recreational activity for young people as well as families and appeals to everyone. Everyone has to travel at least half an hour or more by car to Doncaster, where there is no ice hockey available, or Sheffield to give just ice skating a go, so why not offer that to everyone right here? And why not offer even more? Curling, ice hockey, synchronised skating, sledge hockey just to name a few!

Make a difference. Help bring something new to this town and all of Bassetlaw!

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Thank you.