Festival Leisure Ice Rink Is Nearly Ready

IT will take ten men, four days and 4,000 litres of water to get Basildon’s outdoor ice rink ready for its grand opening.

The marquee and flooring for the 30m by 20m rink at Festival Leisure Park is already in place.

The ice still needs to be laid on top before the arena is due to open on Saturday, November 22.

The rink’s first day of opening day will see an ice hockey and figure skating demonstration, as well as free skating for early arrivals.

This is the third year a rink has been set up at Festival Leisure Park.

The arena will remain open until April.

The next phase of work will see 615m of thick rubber tubing laid down, before 4,000 litres of water and glycol are pumped through and then frozen.

A plastic membrane is placed under the rubber tubing to allow water to be pumped over and frozen, creating 8cm of ice.

The agenda for the opening day is: l 10am: Ice hockey demonstration l 10.30am: Cutting the ribbon ceremony featuring Frank Tomlin, Basildon Council chairman, and the cast of Cinderella, from the Towngate Theatre l 10.45am: Figure Skating demonstration l 11am: Free skating for the first 380 people.

The rink will be open from 10am to 10pm, seven days a week, from Sunday, Novem-ber 23.

Ice skating will cost £8 for adults, £6 for children (under 16).

A family ticket (two adults and two children under 16) is £24 per hour.

Call 01268 764437 to book tickets.

Article originally featured on www.echo-news.co.uk