An ice rink is set to return to Watford Town Centre this Christmas, with the attraction expected to run for around five or six weeks.
The rink is likely to be of interest to people across the wider area, including many Harrow residents who regularly travel to Watford for shopping, leisure and Christmas activities.
£174,000 contract for festive ice rink
A contract worth £174,000 will be awarded to Ice Park Ltd to provide the rink at The Parade over the festive period.
It will be there for “five or six weeks”, according to Watford Borough Council documents, and will be funded through sponsorship from Mace Foundation and an allocation from the council’s Community Infrastructure Levy pot, which is paid into by developers in the area.
Peter Taylor, elected mayor of Watford, had promised in his election manifesto earlier this year to bring an ice rink back to the town centre for the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic.
Real-ice rink planned for The Parade
The 20 metre by 12 metre real-ice rink will be accompanied by a marquee, as well as space for chillers, boot changing facilities and a kiosk.
Council documents show that the authority had to work outside its normal contract procedure rules to appoint Ice Park Ltd due to “exceptional circumstances relating to limited availability in the market”.
The report continued: “Market engagement indicated a very limited specialist supplier market, with Ice Park Ltd the only provider identified as able to supply the rink infrastructure and manage day-to-day operations within the timescales available following the mayoral election.
“A single provider model is preferred to ensure clear accountability, reduce operational and health and safety risks, and support delivery within the required timescales.”
Cabinet to consider contract decision
Watford Borough Council’s cabinet will be asked to note the exception to the authority’s usual rules at a meeting on Monday, October 5.
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