The video was the result of an initial email enquiry by ITN to me whilst I was up in Lancashire; ‘We want to come down and shoot a piece on SPICE and the temporary closure’ said the voice down the phone when I called. ‘Great’ I had said, ‘we run every Sunday from 10:30 till 12:15 fifty two weeks a year’
The voice at the other end of the phone listened and then said, ‘We want to come tomorrow around 1pm so we can run it on the evening’s show at 6 pm’!!
The good people of SPICE sprung into action and over the next 18 hours we received texts and emails from parents and volunteers confirming that ‘somehow’ they would be there to support us.
As the video demonstrates, we indeed had a great turnout from some diehard members and volunteers and we were able to put on a great show, even managing the ‘Hokey Kokey’ as a finale!!
The fun and excitement we had yesterday obscured the reason why we had all hustled to be there. Our rink is closing in October with the promise of a shiny new refurnished rink but with no temporary provision.
In the eyes of the council, there’s no money to provide anything temporary but where does that leave us, SPICE, the 160 young hockey players of the Slough Jets junior program, the four synchronised skating teams, the elite skaters as well as the good people of Slough, whilst this takes place?
Surely in 2016 we can explore some options, a phased reconstruction, an empty building on the Slough Trading Estate, a temporary rink such as those that spring up round the country during the holiday season?
I can’t but help feel that if our council would only accept my invitation to come down and see SPICE in action, then they would at least understand why we are so passionate about keeping what has taken fourteen years to build, whilst the refurbishment takes place.
So my message to Slough Borough Council is clear; come down and meet us. Speak to our members and parents and let’s share both sides of the story and develop a plan.
We’re here every Sunday, 52 weeks a year, well that is of course, until the rink shuts in October.
