Could West Bromwich finally get its ice rink?

The rink, to be built on the site of the derelict Queens Square car park, has been hit by a series of setbacks but finally appears to be moving forward.

Delays on finalising the plans had led to fears the ice rink would never come to fruition but at long last, three years after it was first mooted, bosses behind the scheme say relevant documents are close to being submitted to Sandwell Council.

Mike Petrouis, chief executive of Planet Ice, said: "I feel like we're on the last furlong now and I will be pleased to take it to another level."

The company is in the final stages of completing a land agreement which will allow them to demolish the multi-storey car park and build the ice rink.

Mr Petrouis said: "We have agreed a final document and are waiting for the council to sign it. We will then go to planning when everything is final, the council has got to do it right.

"As soon as we have got the land agreement ready we will put the application in."

Council bosses were keen to get an ice rink in the town centre to try and boost visitor numbers and and compliment other new developments such as the £200 million New Square Shopping Centre.

It was originally hoped the ice rink was open for spring 2015. An estimated date for work to start was then put back to the end of 2015, but still nothing has happened. The lack of activity had sparked fears the deal had hit a snag, however, the wheels now appear to be moving again.

Council officers have been in discussions with Planet Ice over the last few months, with draft proposals having been tweaked and sent back to the developer.

Once the plans have been submitted, which Mr Petrouis said could be within the next two weeks, they would then just have to get past the council's planning committee before work could begin.

Mr Petroius previously said he believed the redevelopment of the car park would rejuvinate the area.

He said: "It is for the people of Sandwell and West Bromwich but it will also bring people to Sandwell from Birmingham.

"A 30-mile radius is normally our catchment with these facilities."