MORAY’S ICE RINK will finally have its upgraded replacement power plant – ending months of uncertainty over the its future.
A grant of just under £216,000 has been awarded to Moray Council from sportScotland – completing the required funding for a replacement ice plant without which the rink would have been forced to close.
The new system is now expected to be installed by the end of the year, with the local authority already having agreed to meet half the replacement costs as well as the full costs of a new ice surface machine.
Rink operators Moray Leisure faced a major crisis when it was revealed the ageing ice plant in use was of a type that has been banned because of its environmental impact. Preparatory work has undertaken last summer in preparation for the new system.
It is now expected that the chiller will be in place by late December or early January and that there will be no disruption to the operation of the rink.
sportScotland chief executive Stewart Harris said: “At sportScotland our mission is to build a world class sporting system for everyone in Scotland. We want to see more and better opportunities for people to take part in sport at every level.
“Replacing the outdated ice plant at Moray Leisure Centre will ensure that the local community can continue to enjoy a range of ice sports right at the heart of the community which is why we were delighted to invest £215,872 in the project.”