The prospect of a permanent ice rink for Cambridge has moved a step closer this winter with Cambridge On Ice putting up a temporary rink on Parker's Piece.

Cambridge Leisure and Ice Centre (CLIC), a charitable company with trustees from the University and the local community, is exploring ways of establishing a permanent rink for the city.

"CLIC are sponsoring Cambridge On Ice to help raise awareness of the CLIC project and to gauge public interest in a permanent ice rink for the city," said Professor Bill Harris who is Chair of CLIC, Head of the Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience and coach to the University ice hockey teams.

CLIC already has a design by the renowned HOK Architects for an £11 million building providing a rink and other leisure facilities, and is confident it can identify sufficient funding.

Currently Cambridge University Ice Hockey Club have to travel to Peterborough late every Sunday night to train while their Oxford counterparts have a rink on their doorstep.

The signs so far are encouraging with more than 3,000 people using the rink on Parker's Piece over the opening weekend. If this translates into support for the University-led proposals and subject to plans being approved, Cambridge could have its own permanent rink within the next three to five years years.

Cambridge On Ice is open daily between 10am and 10pm until 6 January 2008.

See the website linked above right for full details.

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