That’s all folks!

Jan 4 2008 by Joanne Douglas, Huddersfield Daily Examiner

That’s all folks!

MORE than 15,000 skaters took to the ice in Huddersfield.

The ice rink on the town centre Piazza attracted record numbers to enjoy skating over the festive period.

The open-air attraction went out with a bang on New Year’s Eve and it is now being dismantled.

But Kirklees councillors have vowed to bring it back next winter if the public want it back.

Clr Ken Sims, Kirklees Cabinet’s member for regeneration, said: “We are very pleased with the number of visitors. We are still waiting for official figures, but it has certainly been better than last year.

“We have given more opportunities to groups and charities to come along than we did last year and that seems to have worked very well.’’

Clr Sims added: “We are very happy with the way it has gone, but the most important thing for us is what the public feel about it.

“It has been busy most of the days I have walked past, despite the rain we had.

“It is not just an ice rink to us; it is an attraction that people enjoy.

“It brings an increased footfall into the town centre and it encourages people to use their own town centres.

“It has been a real bonus.”

Many schoolchildren enjoyed trips to the ice rink, while blind and partially-sighted children at Action for the Blind also took to the ice.

It was the second year the rink has been in the town centre in the run up to Christmas and new year.

Work started on creating the rink in early November and it opened to the public in mid-November.

It was open every day until New Year’s Eve, when skaters celebrated on the ice.

For the first time the rink had a cafe area selling Continental food and drinks.

This also proved a success and gave parents the chance to watch their children on the ice and soak up the festive atmosphere.

Retailers around the town centre, especially on the Piazza, were also boosted by the attraction with more customers going to their shops.