One of my choices was an ice-rink, an attraction sadly lacking locally since the demise of the old Brighton facility.

Needless to say, it just didn't happen (along with a lot of other things!).

Then, to their credit, councillors and the Town Centre Initiative decided to give people a winter treat by installing a temporary rink in Steyne Gardens — and even the most optimistic must have been agreeably surprised by what a resounding success the £80,000 venture has proved.

After hearing that the ice-rink usage was a sell-out last weekend, I popped down to Steyne Gardens on Monday (February 16), and it was like one of the peak days of the summer seafront fair.

And as it was the start of the half-term holiday, there were kids galore to complement the healthy numbers of adult users to enjoy the rare (for Worthing) experience of skating on what is really a decent-sized rink by temporary standards.

It strongly reinforces the view that a permanent rink would be very popular.

This prospect was encouraged by council leader Keith Mercer on Tuesday (February 17) when he announced that officers would be briefed to review possible sites for such a rink.

If enough land is available, why not locate an ice-rink facility in the pool complex?

This could be a money saver, rather than place the rink in a separate building.

As we've seen from the Steyne Gardens rink, people will be prepared to come from as far afield as Hassocks and Newhaven to have their spin on the ice.

It only takes a really worthwhile attraction to draw visitors from well beyond the borough boundaries — and bring more revenue into the town.

Cast your mind back to the great beach timber invasion at the start of last year.

Local catering businesses reported an unprecedented boom in takings.

And while we're on the subject of leisure facilities, I still think it a shame that the council axed the idea of the £100,000 Lottery-funded children's playground at the south-eastern corner of Goring Greensward.

One of the objections put forward was that there would be only a 180-degrees "catchment" area of potential users, being that the sea occupied the other half!

Well, the same could be said of the Aquarena, but there's no shortage of users there.

There's obviously a need for a decent playground for Goring youngsters, and I've yet to be convinced that other site options being investigated by the council possess anything near the advantages offered by the Greensward proposal.

If these alternatives can't provide anything other than a half-cocked compromise, then the council should revisit this original option.


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