THOUSANDS of you have backed calls for a new ice rink in Southampton and now campaigners are urging everyone to show their support by marching through the city.
Exactly 20 years to the day since the Top Rank rink was closed down and demolished, ice skaters from the past, present and of the future are expected to march through Southampton in support of a new ice rink development.
Starting at Mayfair Gardens in Banister Park, members of the United Southampton Skaters will meet at 11am tomorrow morning at the site of the former home of figure skating, ice dancing and ice hockey.
Since 1988 keen skaters have been waiting for a new home, with plans and projects coming close but never successfully ending in development.
"We have waited 20 years and we are still going to keep fighting,"
said campaigner Edna Bowden, secretary of Southampton Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club.
Having already spent weeks campaigning on the streets of the city centre, the ice rink supporters have gathered thousands of signatures backing their cries for the city council to do more to bring in an ice rink.
"We want as many people as possible to join us on the march because the support we have got already is fantastic.
"So many people are coming up to us with their memories of the old rink and think that Gosport and Basingstoke are too far to go.
"They want something to keep young people off the streets in their local city.
"An ice rink will do this and keep people fit with a healthy activity," she added.
Members of the Vikings Ice Hockey Club are also leading the calls for a new home 20 years on and are staging a reunion match at 6pm on Saturday at Basingstoke's Planet Ice venue. Natalie Murphy from the club said that the fight will continue until they succeed.
"Our message is simple, give us what we want and we will go away," she said.
After meeting at the site of the old rink, the rally will march along Bedford Place and Watts Park into Above Bar Street and down towards the Bargate.
Article originally featured on www.dailyecho.co.uk
