- Centrum Arena (Prestwick)
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Centrum Arena Centrum 
Computer generated image of the ArenaLocation 125 Ayr Road, Prestwick, Scotland Coordinates 55:29:14N, 4:36:59W (NS347245) Broke ground 1986 Built 1996 Opened 25th August 1996 Closed 2002 Demolished 2009 Owner Barr Holdings Limited Operator Barr Leisure Limited Surface International Spec ice pad. General Contractor Dawn Construction Limited Main contractors Laing Scotland Limited Capacity 2733 (all seated) Field dimensions 200 × 103 ft (61 × 31 m) Tenants Ice Hockey Services Limited The Centrum Arena was a 2,733-seat ice arena situated at 125 Ayr Road, Prestwick, South Ayrshire, Scotland.
Contents
The Site
The land upon which the Arena was constructed, is owned by South Ayrshire Council local authority on behalf of the public, the land being gifted to the people of Prestwick for their enjoyment and recreational use.[1]
Construction
Caledonian Ice Hockey Ltd, part of the Glen Henderson Group, began construction of the Centrum in 1986 as a replacement rink for the Ayr Raiders Ice Hockey Club.[2] The construction phase was delayed and the building stood incomplete for a substantial period after the project had been abandoned, before being acquired by Barr Holdings Ltd in 1993.[3]
Operation and Facilities
Barr Leisure Ltd whilst securing Lottery Funding, invested further sums to complete the project. Opening on 25 August 1996, the Centrum was run by Barr Leisure Limited a subsidiary of Barr Holdings Ltd and became home of the Ayr Scottish Eagles Ice Hockey Club. The Eagles played their first home game on 1 September 1996.[4]
Designed as a purpose built ice hockey arena, at the time the Centrum had the United Kingdom's largest ice pad at 103 by 200 feet (31 × 61 m), designed to International Ice Hockey Federation specification, seating 2,733 persons with several VIP booths.
The Centrum had a four faced ice hockey scoreboard over the faceoff circle with a rotating advertisement wheel beneath displaying Barr Holdings Limited's subsidiary companies. Two Ice resurfacer machines were kept of the Zamboni marque.
The Centrum contained a sports bar to the rear called Tholos[5], a fitness centre to the front called Aurigin[6] and an ice hockey pro shop selling ice hockey equipment as well as replica Eagles ice hockey jerseys.
Public skating was offered with skate hire facilities.
Events
The Centrum was mainly used as an ice-hockey venue for the Ice Hockey Superleague but was also capable of hosting events such as the Chinese State Circus [7]. and roller hockey tournaments both in the off season and during winter by covering the ice pad.
Closure
Ticket of the last ever ice hockey game staged at the Centrum between the Scottish Eagles and a UK Select Team held on Tuesday 4th February 2003 with 7.30 pm face off.
When the Eagles ice hockey club moved to Braehead Arena in 2002, the Centrum Arena effectively closed its doors to the public although was still used for practise by the Eagles on occasion - the Eagles ice hockey club went bankrupt after six home games at Braehead. The last ice hockey match held at the Centrum was staged on 4 February 2003. Organised by Friends of Eagles Hockey, this exhibition match was a fund raising event to raise funds for players and officials who had been left in financial difficulty due to the bankruptcy of Ice hockey services Ltd, the Eagles operating company.[8]
The sports bar Tholos and fitness centre Aurigin remained open whilst the arena was closed.[9]
Post Closure
The Centrum arena stood for empty for six years[10] after being stripped out of most of the equipment and indeed, the scoreboard can be seen at Dundalk Ice Dome in County Louth, Republic of Ireland.
On 6 November 2006, Dawn Construction announced purchase of the leasehold from Barr Holdings Ltd for a sum around £700,000.00[9] and went into dialogue with South Ayrshire Council into possible alternative uses for the site.[11]
The South Ayrshire Local Plan that was adopted by South Ayrshire Council on 6 April 2007[12], that outlines policies for the development and use of land in South Ayrshire states policy TOUR3 was associated with the Centrum.
Policy Tour 3: There shall be a presumption in favour of the retention and improvement of existing significant leisure, recreation and tourist facilities
—South Ayrshire Council, Local Plan, 2007, p27
Demolition
Planet Ice approached Dawn Developments Limited to enquire about running the facility as an ice rink but were turned down by Dawn.[10]
Shortly after, Dawn lodged an application to demolish the rink that proved contentious amongst the local public[13] who were concerned over the loss of the facilities and that a supermarket may be constructed on the site.[14] It was stated by South Ayrshire Council that there were no plans for a supermarket to be constructed on the site.[14]. The Centrum's demolition was opposed by Friends of the Eagles Hockey[10] but supported by Prestwick Community Council who seen its demolition a step toward regeneration of the Prestwick Toll area stating that the Centrum had become a target for vandals[13].
The demolition of the Centrum commenced on Monday 16 February 2009, after being brought forward from its original scheduled demolition in late 2009. Dawn Developments stated that this was due to pressure from Prestwick Community council who had concerns that the Centrum would become a target for anti social behaviour including vandalism.[9] The demolition contractor was N&R Demolitions Ltd. [15]
Afterwards a planning application was lodged for the erection of a supermarket, petrol station and associated works on 10/28/2008 - Planning Reference no. 08/01336/FUL[16] - on behalf of Sainsbury's Supermarkets Ltd and Dawn Developments Ltd. Local parents were opposed to the proposals who wished that the ground be retained for leisure, also citing safety concerns by the expected increased levels of traffic.[17]. A local MP called for the proposal to be thrown out.[17] Sainsburys were granted planning permission after a unanimous decision by the council[18] in apparent contradiction of the Local Plan policy[19].
The debate amongst the local public, however, for a replacement facility continued with a public meeting being held with South Ayrshire Council being urged to provide a replacement facility.[20]. No replacement facility has been provided since.
Today
The site was entirely redeveloped. A petrol station and carpark of the new Sainsbury's supermarket are located where the Centrum formerly stood.
The supermarket, which was opened on Wednesday 14 July 2010 is situated at the rear of the site that was the location of the over flow car park for the Centrum. The accommodation comprises 45,000 sq ft (4,200 m2) of shop space.[21].
The ground lease will expire on 31 August 2109.[22]
Campaign groups
Local ice hockey fan group, Friends of Eagles Hockey, campaigned for the return of ice hockey to the Centrum Arena after the Eagles's demise and indeed for a replacement facility once the Centrum was demolished.[23]
See also
- Ayr Bruins
- Ayr Raiders
- Ayr Scottish Eagles
- Ice Hockey Superleague
References
- ^ South Ayrshire Council Planning Application Report. Regulatory Panel: 13th September 2007
- ^ Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 148.
- ^ Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 193.
- ^ Gordon, David. Raiders of the Lost Rink Ice Hockey In Ayr. Tempus Publishing Ltd, 2004, p. 206.
- ^ "Tholos Bar". http://www.hotfrog.co.uk/Companies/Tholos-Bar. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ "Article from: Daily Record (Glasgow, Scotland)". http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1G1-135359861.html. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ Centrum Area Match Programme (17.10.1996). Ayr Scottish Eagles v Manchester Storm, p6
- ^ Ayr Scottish Eagles
- ^ a b c Ayrshire Post, [1], Centrum demolition is brought forward, 13 February 2009
- ^ a b c Ayr Advertiser, "Mystery over Centrum 'offer'", Ayr Advertiser, 26 February 2008
- ^ "New Dawn for The Centrum in Prestwick". http://www.dawn-group.co.uk/developments/news.aspx?news=48. Retrieved 27 March 2011.
- ^ Peterkin J.G. [2], South Ayrshire Local Plan, April 6, 2007, accessed March 31, 2011.
- ^ a b Ayrshire Post, [3], Prestwick's Centrum Arena is dismantled, 20 February 2009
- ^ a b Ayrshire Post, [4], No supermarket plan for Centrum in Prestwick, 14 May 2008
- ^ "N&R Demolitions - Recent Projects". http://www.nandrdemolitions.co.uk/projects.asp. Retrieved 11 November 2011.
- ^ "Application Details". http://ww6.south-ayrshire.gov.uk:81/bumblebee-web/applicationDetails.do?action=showDetails&caseNo=08/01336/FUL. Retrieved 28 March 2011.
- ^ a b Ayrshire Post, [5], Prestwick parents protest at store plans, 9 January 2009
- ^ Ayrshire Post, [6], Supermarket plans something new for Centrum site, 26 June 2009
- ^ "Local Development Plan Map". http://gis.south-ayrshire.gov.uk/mapsSimple/mapLocalPlan.htm#. Retrieved 31 March 2011.
- ^ Ayrshire Post, [7], Crunch meeting for Prestwick Centrum site, 3 April 2009
- ^ "220 jobs created as Sainsbury's comes to Prestwick". http://www.j-sainsbury.com/index.asp?PageID=432§ion=&Year=2010&NewsID=1326. Retrieved 26 March 2011.
- ^ South Ayrshire Council. Excerpt from the minutes of the leadership panel. 26th August 2008.
- ^ Ayrshire Post, [8], Crunch meeting for Prestwick Centrum site, 3 April 2009
Categories:- Indoor arenas in Scotland
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