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Plans for tennis courts submitted for Smallbrook but where's the ice rink?

Plans for the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre have been proposed but alter what has been approved. Picture by ermc and, inset, Duncan Gayler.
Plans for the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre have been proposed but alter what has been approved. Picture by ermc and, inset, Duncan Gayler.

AS TIME starts to run out for hopes of an ice rink on the Isle of Wight again, the first phase of development of the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre (SILC) has been submitted — for tennis courts.

Permission for the major facility, next to Smallbrook Stadium, was granted in December 2019, after support from hundreds of Islanders persuaded the Isle of Wight Council’s planning committee to go against officers' recommendations to refuse the scheme.

The new indoor sports centre was approved to have an ice rink, multi-use courts, climbing wall, trampoline area and tennis courts.

The plans were welcomed by the community who had missed having an ice rink on the Island, however, planning permission for the much-requested rink runs out in December this year and there is no indication of an ice rink in the latest submission.

Read more: Isle of Wight ice rink's future uncertain over drainage issue

Isle of Wight County Press: The approved layout of the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre.
Isle of Wight County Press: The approved layout of the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre.

The approved layout of the Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre.

Isle of Wight County Press: The plans for a tennis court. Picture by Duncan Gayler.
Isle of Wight County Press: The plans for a tennis court. Picture by Duncan Gayler.

The plans for a tennis court. Picture by Duncan Gayler.

Plans have been submitted by Zyrieda Denning and Jasmine Sports, the backers behind the project, for the first phase of the sports centre's development - but different to those approved.

The team is seeking to change the plans, altering the layout.

The new application (21/02199/RVC) is looking to build tennis courts and structures, with temporary access and limited parking, on the area originally designated as the car park.

It is unclear whether or not ice rink plans are to follow.

Two objectors have so far commented, with one saying it was an entirely new proposition than the ice rink and should be treated as a new application.

The other questioned the lack of information, including what were the other phases of the original sports facilities, saying there were a ‘great many’ tennis courts on the Island but no ice rink.

Isle of Wight County Press: The two schemes — the tennis courts proposed, left, and the approved car park, right. Pictures by Duncan Gayler and ermc.
Isle of Wight County Press: The two schemes — the tennis courts proposed, left, and the approved car park, right. Pictures by Duncan Gayler and ermc.

The two schemes — the tennis courts proposed, left, and the approved car park, right. Pictures by Duncan Gayler and ermc.

Isle of Wight County Press: The approved Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre. Picture by ermc.
Isle of Wight County Press: The approved Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre. Picture by ermc.

The approved Smallbrook Ice and Leisure Centre. Picture by ermc.

Another application (21/02200/DIS) seeks to discharge conditions from the original major application for the sports centre, but in relation to the tennis courts.

They suggest the use of the tennis courts will be limited to a maximum of eight people at any one time and the courts would be open between 8am and 9pm.

Looking at both applications, Island Roads said it was unable to recommend discharging the conditions relating to highways.

The highways authority had previously objected to the main development and said its concerns still remain, seeking more information.

We have contacted a spokesperson on behalf of the developers, to clarify what their plans are with regards an ice rink.