LEADERS of ice skating teams have slammed ‘broken promises’ as the temporary ice rink to cover the time Slough Ice Arena is under refurbishment was delayed until further notice.

The rink was due to open on Saturday, December 17, but the contracts have not been agreed and no new date has been set, it emerged last Friday.

It had previously been rumoured that although the council had decided on a provider of the service, the actual contract had not been agreed, and this has now been confirmed.

Cllr Joginder Bal, commissioner for environment and leisure, said: “Unfortunately this delay in the temporary rink is something which is out of our control.

“We’ve worked extremely hard to make sure this temporary rink was possible, and are very disappointed that the project hasn’t moved at the speed we had hoped so far.

“Unfortunately Until the contract is agreed we are unable to release an opening date.”

Jo Hodgson, chair of Slough’s SPICE (Special People on Ice) was dismayed at the news.

She said: “We’re very disappointed. We had an email a day or two before the delay announcement saying it was on schedule.

"The promises keep getting broken. We were so happy and so relieved when the temporary rink was announced but it just hasn’t materialised.”

The refurbishment of Slough Ice Arena started on Tuesday, November 1 and the facility will re-open in December 2017.

Shirley Goodgroves, chair of Slough Synchronised Skating Club said: “We are hugely disappointed.

“We don’t really trust much of what the council say any more.

“We were told the contract would be signed on Tuesday, (November 29) before the announcement of the delay was made.”

The club has been losing members because of the lack of time on ice and their its elementary team of eight-to-10-year-olds has been put on hiatus.

Shirley added: “We’re struggling to keep the team alive.”