A BRACKLEY firm is providing a stop gap while one of London’s ice skating landmarks is replaced.
In December the 81-year-old Streatham Ice Arena closed and work on a permanent replacement began. But with a history of producing ice skating champions, and as a venue popular as a family day out, Lambeth Borough council decided they could go not do without an ice rink during the two year redevelopement.
So on the day the old rink closed, De Boer Structures based on the Buckingham Road Industrial Estate handed over the keys to their a bespoke 2,500-square-metre steel-frame building complete with an international-standard ice bed, built on the site of recently demolished car park. The semi-permanent structure is the first project of its kind carried out by the firm which has also built structures for airports, prisons, music festivals and supermarkets.
Olympic figure skating champion Jeanette Altwegg trained at the arena during the 1950s, followed by world Ice Dance Champion Diane Towler and her dance partner Bernard Ford in the 1960s. The temporary venue is also receiving the thumbs up from the current crop of up and coming talent.
Head coach Diane Towler-Green, (four-times British, European and World Ice Dance Champion), said: “We were concerned about how small the site was and the level of facilities that could be provided but it’s absolutely amazing, fantastic – we love it! The ice is very good and the facilities are marvellous. You can’t fault it. In fact it is one of the best rinks we have been to.”