Frustration over Ice Bowl plans but Belfast Giants said to be ‘very impressed’

The long wait for redevelopment of the site off Old Dundonald Road has gone on for several years.

The Ice Bowl opened in 1986 with the original revamp pencilled for 2017.

In 2019, Lisburn Castlereagh Councillors saw a first glimpse of the proposal to revamp the Ice Bowl.

The new proposal included a new Olympic-sized rink, ten pin bowling alley, cafe, healthcare centre and gym.

The annoyance of Councillors came from a Capital Projects Committee this week – with one councillor labelling a new report on the project as “ludicrous”.

Council officers outlined an updated timetable on the project to date as part of the new report.

Alderman David Drysdale said the options outlined by the council were ‘mystifying’, adding that ‘he didn’t know where officers were trying to go with the report’.

“I thought there would have been more correspondence from the Department {of Communities] on the project and more clarification on the so called £5million that was offered,” Alderman Drysdale said.

“I would have been interested to see if any letters had been exchanged with [GP] Surgeries and other businesses who are interested because good business attracts other business.

“I don’t understand why [we want to get rid of] healthcare, adventure and play park because all of these things bring in revenue and big revenue.

Councillors had previously committed to net spending no more than £36.2m on the project at November Capital Projects Committee meeting.

However, Lisburn Castlereagh’s Director of Service Transformation Donal Rogan said there was another option for maintaining healthcare while omitting adventure and a play park.

He added: “This is all about the metrics. We need to bring forward to you the evidence base around the decision that you need to make around the investment [and] that is what we are in the process of working up and we won’t leave no stone unturned and you will get sight of it.”

The council also revealed that they continue to engage with business across the local council area in regards to leasing spaces within the redeveloped Ice Bowl.

It is also understood that the Belfast Giants met with council officials on January 8th and were “very impressed” with the proposals outlined.