A SCHEME to open a new state of the art ice rink in Altrincham has been frozen out - for the time being at least.

After months of deliberation, council chiefs have decided not to back a joint plan by Altrincham Ice Rink and Morbaine Ltd, which included an Olympic-size ice arena.

Instead, they have plumped for supermarket giant Tesco's project for a store on a site bounded by Moss Lane, Manor Road and Lloyd Street.

Altrincham ice rink chairman Derek Thompson says: "Our loss is Altrincham's loss too. Despite all the council's positive words about building a new ice rink and a blue chip leisure facility, we still have not reached that goal and the town is still in danger of being left behind while new developments spring up all around it."

Council leader David Acton said the Tesco scheme included a site free for future development and the council would consider any application to put an ice rink on it."

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