West Bromwich ice-rink plans are a 'dead project'
Long-running plans to create a huge ice rink in the heart of West Bromwich have been scrapped, it can be revealed.
The attraction was set to be built on the site of the derelict Queens Square car park but council bosses have now said they favour a 'more comprehensive' development of the area.
They also suggested the plans for the ice rink did not represent value for money.
It comes after months of talks between planners and council officers over the proposed development which was hit by a series of setbacks since details were first announced three years ago. It was initially hoped the ice rink, which was set to create 100 jobs, would have been opened by the end of 2015.
However, there are now real doubts about whether an ice rink will ever be built in the town centre with the company behind the scheme saying it was a 'dead project'.
Sandwell Council's regeneration boss Councillor Paul Moore said he was looking at other options for the town centre but did not rule out the possibility of an ice rink at some point in the future.
It represents a change in tack for the authority which spoke about the plans in glowing terms when they were unveiled.
Councillor Moore said: "We've looked at this proposal in detail. It needs to provide value for money given this is council-owned land.
"This is in the heart of West Bromwich and we believe a wider, more comprehensive approach needs to be taken to regenerating this part of the town.
"We plan to work in partnership with adjoining land owners and there is nothing to rule out an ice rink forming part of this wider scheme as we move forward if the business case stacks up."
Under the plans, which were put forward by Planet Ice, the run-down Queens Square car park would have been bulldozed to make way for the facility.
Mike Petrouis, chief executive of Planet Ice, said: "The council have sent us a letter saying they don't want to do it, they thought the car park was worth better options.
"They might come back to us in the future but at the moment it's a dead project.
"It's disappointing as I think Sandwell has a good catchment area. I don't know, in years to come someone else might do it."
