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Big names draw up plans for ice rink

10:36am Friday 29th August 2008

comment Comments (93)   Have your say »


TWO of the biggest names in Britain's leisure industry are drawing up plans to build an ice rink in the heart of Southampton, the Daily Echo can today exclusively reveal.

Two top-secret sites have been identified in the city centre and the rival developers are in advanced talks with Southamp-ton City Council.

The development comes after campaigners last week rallied through Southampton calling for a new ice rink 20 years to the day after the city's Top Rank rink closed down.

Marching under the banner of United Southampton Skaters (USS), the skaters, ice hockey players and ice dancers handed a Daily Echo backed petition with 5,000 signatures to the council.

Details of the rink proposals are a closely guarded secret but the Echo has learnt both operators have met with the council to discuss their vision.

One of the proposed sites is on private land near the waterfront, while the second is an inner city area of part private and publicly owned land.

USS organiser Natalie Murphy said: "It would be superb if this happens. We will be waiting with baited breath but we have seen schemes come and go before. If these developers are serious then what they need to do is work with USS."

Fellow organiser Edna Boden said: "If it's true it's great news. As long as hopes are not going to be dashed again."

Kerry Payne, chairman of Southampton Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club, added: "I will believe it when I see it. We've heard this flannel before."

The Echo understands one proposal is to build an ice rink as part of multi-million winter sports complex.

As revealed by the Echo in February, developers X-Leisure want to build a giant snow dome that would feature a 200m slope covered with tonnes of fresh snow everyday.

Xscape Southampton could attract up to four million visitors a year from across the south and pump millions into the local economy.

The council hopes an ice rink could be an attraction alongside shops, bars, restaurants and other activities such as indoor skydiving, rock climbing and a skateboard park. Xscape has already proved hugely successful in Milton Keynes, Leeds and Glasgow.

Councillor John Hannides, Cabinet member for leisure, confirmed the council had met with the developers.

He said the Conservative administration wanted to attract operators who could run the ice rink at a profit.

"We have gone beyond anything that has been done by any previous administration to attract potential operators to Southampton to the point that we are pursuing opportunities that have never been considered," he said.

"We are investing a lot of time and energy to make this happen. We are acting as a facilitator by helping to bring together the players to make this happen."

Any development is still "years" away from starting construction, but Cllr Hannides said one developer was already investigating the potential popularity of the rink.


Your Say YourThis is Hampshire

THE BRICK, @THE IC RINK says...
10:48am Fri 29 Aug 08

Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!

clair, Soton Icering? says...
11:05am Fri 29 Aug 08

Please, please don't let it be OUR Mayflower Park. I doubt most Southampton people will be able to afford ice skating let alone take the kids - Sometimes I feel these business entrepaneurs buy with an ulterior motive, let the business run for a few years and run it down - its a kind of investment for the future.
I am so suspicious nowadays.

clair

Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
11:07am Fri 29 Aug 08

I wouldn't say it's 100% successful just yet, Brick (BTW why don't you use your real name? It will give your posts a bit more credibility and everyone knows who you are anyway... just a thought). The Tory rhetoric stops short of promising to build something:

We have gone beyond anything that has been done by any previous administration to attract potential operators to Southampton


To me this looks like Council waving and their arms and proclaiming "See?! We're doing something!! We're actually doing something!" When in fact they're just dangling a carrot to secure their next election victory.

"We are acting as a facilitator by helping to bring together the players to make this happen"


Any development is still "years" away from starting construction


A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for possibly, maybe getting an ice rink if you're lucky in the next 20 years.

southy, redbridge says...
11:37am Fri 29 Aug 08

there's going to be 10 new ice rinks built in the uk.

Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
11:49am Fri 29 Aug 08

southy wrote:
there's going to be 10 new ice rinks built in the uk.
Source..?

Paramjit Bahia, Southampton says...
11:56am Fri 29 Aug 08

Gillmore's analysis “A vote for the Conservatives is a vote for possibly, maybe getting an ice rink if you're lucky in the next 20 years.” is spot on. But in election situation there will be many other more important issues than ice rink.

But in fairness the nasty party has now made it absolutely clear that they are not going to facilitate Ice Rink either by subsidising or with cheap land deals etc. In the past all three main parties were misleading even on that point.

While I do not like selling public land the fact is that Council sold the land at reduced price to a Mosque (Was supported by all three main parties) and has provided massive grants to religious organisations. (For providing working classes with opium!) Although I will not but others could argue if it can be done for religion then why not for leisure and sports.

George, says...
11:56am Fri 29 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!
Typical response from you, really, based on what you'd like to think, rather than the actual facts of the matter. I never said it wouldn't be successful. I said that a petition of 5000 signatures and a demand that it be built was not proof that an ice rink would be popular. In your desperation to gloat, you once more ignored actual facts.

It isn't 100% anyway, the plug can still be pulled. Hopefully it won't, but you never know.

George, says...
12:03pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Wait until the thing actually opens before claiming your campaign was a "100% success"

The Echo understands one proposal is to build an ice rink as part of multi-million winter sports complex.


As said all along by "the neggies", the only way it could be sustainable is as part of a larger complex.

Any development is still "years" away from starting construction


Doesn't sound like 100% success to me.

southy, redbridge says...
12:21pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Gilmore wrote:
southy wrote:
there\'s going to be 10 new ice rinks built in the uk.
Source..?
you need to be in the know at the moment.but when the time comes it will be publish,and the 10 towns/citys that will get them,it be publish in paper way before you see it on the internet,so i suggjest that you kept going to the library and look at the white paper

Who cares, Southampton says...
12:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Does anyone actually want an ice rink, besides the skating club?

southy, redbridge says...
12:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Who cares wrote:
Does anyone actually want an ice rink, besides the skating club?
yes

Who cares, So'ton says...
12:35pm Fri 29 Aug 08

are you sure about that......

southy, redbridge says...
12:41pm Fri 29 Aug 08

yes

George, says...
12:45pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy wrote:
yes
Seconded, actually. I want one. Not to the extent that I want to force it on a city that doesn't want it, but I still want one, regardless.

Christoff, says...
12:51pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Who cares wrote:
Does anyone actually want an ice rink, besides the skating club?
not bothered either way. I would be one of those once a year users

THE BRICK, @THE ICE RINK says...
1:47pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Typical response from you, really, based on what you'd like to think, rather than the actual facts of the matter. I never said it wouldn't be successful. I said that a petition of 5000 signatures and a demand that it be built was not proof that an ice rink would be popular. In your desperation to gloat, you once more ignored actual facts.{/QUOTE]
Just can't please you can we.

USS have said that the council should build a rink. Our petition asked the council to invite developers into the city and assist them in development.

That is what the council have now done and there are two potential discussions going on . Therefore our campaign has been successful insofar that the council are talking about it.

George, I know you would like to see an ice rink, but now there is news about 2 developers with interest how can you say that the campaign was not successful?

USS are not gloating, once again we are stating fact, thats all.

Ian Hoolihan, says...
1:57pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
Typical response from you, really, based on what you'd like to think, rather than the actual facts of the matter. I never said it wouldn't be successful. I said that a petition of 5000 signatures and a demand that it be built was not proof that an ice rink would be popular. In your desperation to gloat, you once more ignored actual facts.{/QUOTE] Just can't please you can we. USS have said that the council should build a rink. Our petition asked the council to invite developers into the city and assist them in development. That is what the council have now done and there are two potential discussions going on . Therefore our campaign has been successful insofar that the council are talking about it. George, I know you would like to see an ice rink, but now there is news about 2 developers with interest how can you say that the campaign was not successful? USS are not gloating, once again we are stating fact, thats all.
so what is it, USS or USC???

southy, redbridge says...
1:58pm Fri 29 Aug 08

the problem brick is that alot dont know what is really happen behide the curtains.like i only found out the other day when chatting to my m8 in costains.10 new ice rinks to be built in the uk

Tony, Southampton says...
1:59pm Fri 29 Aug 08

We've been through this "city on brink of new ice rink" so many times that I will not believe it until I see it.

The old rink closed because Rank could make more money by selling the site for housing than they could make from skating at the rink. That doesn't necessarily mean the rink was unprofitable.

But anybody building a new one will have to recover the substantial capital costs involved in building it and in purchasing the land. This is a huge risk for any developer if it can't be clearly shown that there's sufficient demand in the area to support additional ice rinks to those in places like Basingstoke.

John Hannides may think he's going further than any previous administration but I do know that previous administrations spent a great deal of officer and memebr time on trying to forge a partnership with various developers so that the risk was split between council and private operator to make building a rink more likely. I know that discussions were at a very advanced stage - I suspect more advanced than the current plans - to build a rink combined with swimming pool on the site where The Quays now stands. The Council was confident it would go ahead but it didn't because the developer wanted the council to bear virtually all of the risk.

If John Hannides has found a developer ready to take on all of the risk then good luck to him. But, as I said, I'll believe it when I see it.

George, says...
2:00pm Fri 29 Aug 08

George, I know you would like to see an ice rink, but now there is news about 2 developers with interest how can you say that the campaign was not successful?


Do you have some medical condition that prevents you from quoting what you've read properly? I said it was not yet 100% successful. Which is true. Only once the thing is actually built and opened can you say the campaign was a success. You're ignoring what is being said in favour of setting up straw men to refute. As usual.

You play or watch ice hockey, right? If, by the end of the first half, your team is 5 points up, do you then consider the game a victory? Or do you wait until the final result?

George, says...
2:01pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Tony wrote:
We've been through this "city on brink of new ice rink" so many times that I will not believe it until I see it.

The old rink closed because Rank could make more money by selling the site for housing than they could make from skating at the rink. That doesn't necessarily mean the rink was unprofitable.

But anybody building a new one will have to recover the substantial capital costs involved in building it and in purchasing the land. This is a huge risk for any developer if it can't be clearly shown that there's sufficient demand in the area to support additional ice rinks to those in places like Basingstoke.

John Hannides may think he's going further than any previous administration but I do know that previous administrations spent a great deal of officer and memebr time on trying to forge a partnership with various developers so that the risk was split between council and private operator to make building a rink more likely. I know that discussions were at a very advanced stage - I suspect more advanced than the current plans - to build a rink combined with swimming pool on the site where The Quays now stands. The Council was confident it would go ahead but it didn't because the developer wanted the council to bear virtually all of the risk.

If John Hannides has found a developer ready to take on all of the risk then good luck to him. But, as I said, I'll believe it when I see it.
No no, Tony, the campaign has been a 100% success! There's nothing more to say! Can't you read? </sarcasm>

Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
2:02pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy wrote:
Gilmore wrote:
southy wrote: there\\\'s going to be 10 new ice rinks built in the uk.
Source..?
you need to be in the know at the moment.but when the time comes it will be publish,and the 10 towns/citys that will get them,it be publish in paper way before you see it on the internet,so i suggjest that you kept going to the library and look at the white paper
Which white paper would this be, bro? And how will I know when I've found it? I've never been down to the records department, I tend to stick to the picture books and DVDs ;)

southy, redbridge says...
2:04pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Tony, Southampton said
The old rink closed because Rank could make more money by selling the site for housing than they could make from skating at the rink. That doesn't necessarily mean the rink was unprofitable

this is true but selling land to build houses is short term and the quick buck the one of payment,where has an ice rink will bring in money all the time

southy, redbridge says...
2:09pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Which white paper would this be, bro? And how will I know when I've found it? I've never been down to the records department, I tend to stick to the picture books and DVDs ;)

lol Gilmore, Shirley,

kebab man, still with you george says...
2:10pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Oh ok I see now I cant post because George complains all the time, well my veiws are just as relevant as his.......I think ice skating is a bad idea , i dont personnally like it and I ADDED A BIT OF HUMOUR, and my post is removed yet George is allowed to just argue the toss with all and sundry and get away with it. If you are going to moderate be a bit original mate

Grown up Skater, Totton says...
2:11pm Fri 29 Aug 08

I have mixed feelings about a new Ice rink. Have many happy memories from our Southampton Rink (R.I.P).Would love to go skating again at a local rink with my kids so they can experiance the fun. However the chavs of today and the general rudeness of todays "yooth" ... forget it .. bet they sell beer to try and recoup some of the costs.. louts on ice no thanks.

Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
2:25pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy wrote:
Which white paper would this be, bro? And how will I know when I\'ve found it? I\'ve never been down to the records department, I tend to stick to the picture books and DVDs ;)
lol Gilmore, Shirley,
The white paper's in Shirley, you say? Cool, that's where I live!

Unconvinced, says...
2:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!
I don’t see any “100% success”.

Where is this “100% success” you claim?

All I see is the Echo lamely trying to justify its public campaign by spinning more unsubstantiated rumour, another red herring and throwing yet another bone your way.

All I see is froth and nonsense.

All I see is wishful thinking.

All I see is idle speculation.

What I don’t see, is a proposal.

What I don’t see, is hard evidence.

What I don’t see is a business plan.

So, an ice rink remains a pipe dream.

Pie in the sky.

An albatross.

A fantasy.

A fairy-tale.

It ain’t gonna happen.

The economic climate will not support the necessary investment, either in terms of funding the project or in terms of generating solid income from bodies going through the turnstile or buying tickets.

You may have more success with tiddleywinks as a pastime, rather than huffing and puffing about this ludicrous
notion of millions of pounds being poured into a white elephant of an idea.


southy, redbridge says...
2:33pm Fri 29 Aug 08

in town Gilmore, Shirley.
the main library you could try shirley see what they got been a long time when i was last in there

Dr Alimantado, says...
2:46pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy wrote:
in town Gilmore, Shirley. the main library you could try shirley see what they got been a long time when i was last in there
sense of humour failure.

You do need to get out of the library a little more often

Ian Hoolihan, says...
2:47pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Unconvinced wrote:
THE BRICK wrote: Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!
I don’t see any “100% success”. Where is this “100% success” you claim? All I see is the Echo lamely trying to justify its public campaign by spinning more unsubstantiated rumour, another red herring and throwing yet another bone your way. All I see is froth and nonsense. All I see is wishful thinking. All I see is idle speculation. What I don’t see, is a proposal. What I don’t see, is hard evidence. What I don’t see is a business plan. So, an ice rink remains a pipe dream. Pie in the sky. An albatross. A fantasy. A fairy-tale. It ain’t gonna happen. The economic climate will not support the necessary investment, either in terms of funding the project or in terms of generating solid income from bodies going through the turnstile or buying tickets. You may have more success with tiddleywinks as a pastime, rather than huffing and puffing about this ludicrous notion of millions of pounds being poured into a white elephant of an idea.
I think you should stop sitting on the fence

Unconvinced, says...
3:02pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Ian Hoolihan wrote:
Unconvinced wrote:
THE BRICK wrote: Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!
I don’t see any “100% success”. Where is this “100% success” you claim? All I see is the Echo lamely trying to justify its public campaign by spinning more unsubstantiated rumour, another red herring and throwing yet another bone your way. All I see is froth and nonsense. All I see is wishful thinking. All I see is idle speculation. What I don’t see, is a proposal. What I don’t see, is hard evidence. What I don’t see is a business plan. So, an ice rink remains a pipe dream. Pie in the sky. An albatross. A fantasy. A fairy-tale. It ain’t gonna happen. The economic climate will not support the necessary investment, either in terms of funding the project or in terms of generating solid income from bodies going through the turnstile or buying tickets. You may have more success with tiddleywinks as a pastime, rather than huffing and puffing about this ludicrous notion of millions of pounds being poured into a white elephant of an idea.
I think you should stop sitting on the fence
I think you should say what you want to say

Pigeon, stool says...
3:05pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Unconvinced wrote:
Ian Hoolihan wrote:
Unconvinced wrote:
THE BRICK wrote: Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!
I don’t see any “100% success”. Where is this “100% success” you claim? All I see is the Echo lamely trying to justify its public campaign by spinning more unsubstantiated rumour, another red herring and throwing yet another bone your way. All I see is froth and nonsense. All I see is wishful thinking. All I see is idle speculation. What I don’t see, is a proposal. What I don’t see, is hard evidence. What I don’t see is a business plan. So, an ice rink remains a pipe dream. Pie in the sky. An albatross. A fantasy. A fairy-tale. It ain’t gonna happen. The economic climate will not support the necessary investment, either in terms of funding the project or in terms of generating solid income from bodies going through the turnstile or buying tickets. You may have more success with tiddleywinks as a pastime, rather than huffing and puffing about this ludicrous notion of millions of pounds being poured into a white elephant of an idea.
I think you should stop sitting on the fence
I think you should say what you want to say
I think we should start a petition, see how many people would be in favour of a city-wide Sitting Fence.

Unconvinced, says...
3:12pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
Unconvinced wrote:
Ian Hoolihan wrote:
Unconvinced wrote:
THE BRICK wrote: Read this, the USS campaign is a 100% successful, George!!
I don’t see any “100% success”. Where is this “100% success” you claim? All I see is the Echo lamely trying to justify its public campaign by spinning more unsubstantiated rumour, another red herring and throwing yet another bone your way. All I see is froth and nonsense. All I see is wishful thinking. All I see is idle speculation. What I don’t see, is a proposal. What I don’t see, is hard evidence. What I don’t see is a business plan. So, an ice rink remains a pipe dream. Pie in the sky. An albatross. A fantasy. A fairy-tale. It ain’t gonna happen. The economic climate will not support the necessary investment, either in terms of funding the project or in terms of generating solid income from bodies going through the turnstile or buying tickets. You may have more success with tiddleywinks as a pastime, rather than huffing and puffing about this ludicrous notion of millions of pounds being poured into a white elephant of an idea.
I think you should stop sitting on the fence
I think you should say what you want to say
I think we should start a petition, see how many people would be in favour of a city-wide Sitting Fence.
Would we get 5,000 signatures or just splinters in the bum?

Pigeon, stool says...
3:17pm Fri 29 Aug 08

If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

hoo flung dung, soton says...
3:18pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Won't happen!

you have more chance of the Echo stopping outsourcing UK jobs to oversea's countrys than you have of getting an ice rink!

THE PLANK, says...
3:26pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Count me in. Where do I sign the petition?

Pigeon, stool says...
3:32pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE PLANK wrote:
Pigeon wrote:
If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Count me in. Where do I sign the petition?
I'll be marching from one end of town to, err, a couple of hundred yards from that end of town tomorrow, with a couple of mates who've nothing better to do and thought it might be a jolly nice outing. Then we'll go for a cup of tea

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

southy, westy, northy, easty any way the wind blows, says...
3:37pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Brilliant!

You should claim "100% success" for a Sitting Fence being erected in Southampton.

How about a temporary Sitting Fence for the Christmas hols?

Pigeon, stool says...
3:43pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy, westy, northy, easty any way the wind blows wrote:
Pigeon wrote:
If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Brilliant!

You should claim "100% success" for a Sitting Fence being erected in Southampton.

How about a temporary Sitting Fence for the Christmas hols?
Studies that I just made up a minute ago show that there are already fifty-nine squillion Sitting Fences in Hampshire alone. Some projected figures based on what I had for lunch suggest that the net annual income for one of these Sitting Fences alone would be greater than the GDP of Brazil. It's not a question of if we get a Sitting Fence, it's a question of when

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

Pigeon, stool says...
3:47pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Well, all you girlie neggie pooftahs, you said it wouldn't happen, but I rang up the council today and asked if they'd subsidise a Sitting Fence for Southampton, and they said "look, stop phoning us you dreadful little turd, for the fiftieth time, this isn't the council, it's the West Meon Post Office". So it looks like a 100% success rate for our campaign! In your face, neggas!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

THE PLANK, says...
3:48pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
THE PLANK wrote:
Pigeon wrote:
If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\\\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Count me in. Where do I sign the petition?
I\'ll be marching from one end of town to, err, a couple of hundred yards from that end of town tomorrow, with a couple of mates who\'ve nothing better to do and thought it might be a jolly nice outing. Then we\'ll go for a cup of tea

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
There are plenty of potential sites for a Sitting Fence. Outside the Echo Offices? Outside the Civic Center? Or, the well-publicised site for the dreamy, non-existant ice rink? (But then again that site is a tad hard to locate.)

Pigeon, stool says...
3:52pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE PLANK wrote:
Pigeon wrote:
THE PLANK wrote:
Pigeon wrote:
If we look at how fences in other cities have been utilised for sitting on over the past 20 years, we can get a good idea how popular a Sitting Fence would be. I sat on a fence in the 1984 Olympics, and came second, so I reckon it would be very popular

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\\\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Count me in. Where do I sign the petition?
I\'ll be marching from one end of town to, err, a couple of hundred yards from that end of town tomorrow, with a couple of mates who\'ve nothing better to do and thought it might be a jolly nice outing. Then we\'ll go for a cup of tea

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
There are plenty of potential sites for a Sitting Fence. Outside the Echo Offices? Outside the Civic Center? Or, the well-publicised site for the dreamy, non-existant ice rink? (But then again that site is a tad hard to locate.)
There are over nine thousand possible locations for a Sitting Fence in Southampton. The current plan is to dig a big hole in the middle of Northam, empty all the tower blocks into it, push the rest of the city out half a mile in every direction, half it, double it, add three, take away the number you first thought of, then build it there

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

Paramjit Bahia, Southampton says...
3:59pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Those who want to sit on the fence should make sure it hasn't got any splinters or barbered wire! Otherwise they could end up getting splinters up thy a---

I shRINK, In the fridge says...
3:59pm Fri 29 Aug 08

I'll say this again then: you have about as much chance as hell freezing over, then you can skate there!

Pigeon, stool says...
4:00pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Those who want to sit on the fence should make sure it hasn't got any splinters or barbered wire! Otherwise they could end up getting splinters up thy a---
Pah! Don't go polluting our campaign with lousy old "facts" you neggie pooftah!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

Spokesperson for P.U.F.F.S, says...
4:08pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Just want you to know we, the P honey U nion of F limsy F ence S itters, back your campaign for a Sitting Fence 100%.

We have a cute and highly original little slogan:

"Its not if it will happen but when it will happen"

Ian Hoolihan, says...
4:12pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Those who want to sit on the fence should make sure it hasn't got any splinters or barbered wire! Otherwise they could end up getting splinters up thy a---
up what...My arms? Don't tease, what is it?

THE PLANK, says...
4:17pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
Paramjit Bahia wrote:
Those who want to sit on the fence should make sure it hasn\'t got any splinters or barbered wire! Otherwise they could end up getting splinters up thy a---
Pah! Don\'t go polluting our campaign with lousy old \"facts\" you neggie pooftah!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
" up thy a--- "

Wonderful!

A convert.

Someone sitting on the fence already! And its not even built yet.

southy, easty, northy, westy any way the wind blows, says...
4:38pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
Well, all you girlie neggie pooftahs, you said it wouldn't happen, but I rang up the council today and asked if they'd subsidise a Sitting Fence for Southampton, and they said "look, stop phoning us you dreadful little turd, for the fiftieth time, this isn't the council, it's the West Meon Post Office". So it looks like a 100% success rate for our campaign! In your face, neggas!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Plank, m8, dont listen to this woody pigeon,your the man, man, If we build a picket fence then we wont be bothred by neggie picets, piceting our jolly nice picket fince

( remindar to myself: I must lern to spell)

(2nd remindarr to myself: must join librrary and read books on local historikal facts and then new labour will not think am talkin out my a--- )

Gilmore, Shirley, Southampton says...
4:40pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Ah, Friday afternoons, eh?

You lot make me laugh :D

THE PLANK, says...
4:49pm Fri 29 Aug 08

The Council are in possession of highly classified facts about potential developers for a Sitting Fence. I am not at liberty to share this information on a public forum. Why, becasue I am full of self importance. And, another thing. I wilt under rational critiscm. Its simply that I do not have facts to respond to honest criticsm. Intelligent arguments crush me. Its hurtful. So I am going to, head off at the pass, all you neggies or potential neggies who think a Sitting Fence will not happen. I am going into secluded temporary retirment to sulk until the Echo does another brilliant job of ressurecting a dead duck.

Enough said.

Pigeon, stool says...
5:02pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE PLANK wrote:
The Council are in possession of highly classified facts about potential developers for a Sitting Fence. I am not at liberty to share this information on a public forum. Why, becasue I am full of self importance. And, another thing. I wilt under rational critiscm. Its simply that I do not have facts to respond to honest criticsm. Intelligent arguments crush me. Its hurtful. So I am going to, head off at the pass, all you neggies or potential neggies who think a Sitting Fence will not happen. I am going into secluded temporary retirment to sulk until the Echo does another brilliant job of ressurecting a dead duck.

Enough said.
My next-door-neighbour'
s mums cousins auntie's cleaning lady's dog confirmed earlier that CI5 are indeed running covert operations to ascertain whether there might be a terrorist plot to abuse the Sitting Fence to bring about another 9/11 disaster in downtown Northam. Councillors Bodie and Doyle have already proven that skidding a Ford Capri round a corner is only the beginning of our Campaign of Idiocy(tm). We will not rest until every man, woman and child in this city agrees to Sit on The Fence

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

Meat Loaf, says...
5:04pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Tarnation! I would've been 100% behind the campaign for a new Sitting Fence, but 11 people left my Southampton concert early, and said mean things about me, so I won't

Fiona Philips, says...
5:06pm Fri 29 Aug 08

I won't be joining the campaign for a new Sitting Fence, I've got to get my roots done again. But I wish you all every success with it and look forward to reporting on any future Fence Sitting events that arise on the video blog I'm bound to start in a few months time when my attention starvation syndrome hits rock bottom, the sh!t hits the fan and I hit the bottle

Lemmy out of Motorhead, says...
5:12pm Fri 29 Aug 08

I think a Sitting Fence would be the best thing to happen to Southampton, ever. It could definately be the "wow" factor you've all been looking for. And I should know, I'm Lemmy from Motorhead

mild bill, millbroke says...
5:15pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy, easty, northy, westy any way the wind blows wrote:
Pigeon wrote:
Well, all you girlie neggie pooftahs, you said it wouldn't happen, but I rang up the council today and asked if they'd subsidise a Sitting Fence for Southampton, and they said "look, stop phoning us you dreadful little turd, for the fiftieth time, this isn't the council, it's the West Meon Post Office". So it looks like a 100% success rate for our campaign! In your face, neggas!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Plank, m8, dont listen to this woody pigeon,your the man, man, If we build a picket fence then we wont be bothred by neggie picets, piceting our jolly nice picket fince

( remindar to myself: I must lern to spell)

(2nd remindarr to myself: must join librrary and read books on local historikal facts and then new labour will not think am talkin out my a--- )
yeh exatcly southy m8, I argee with everythng youve said down to the last letter cos i'm a totally separate like person to you with my own ideas and a pencil and everythng

Rover's owner, says...
5:16pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Have you considered the issue of dog urine, I wonder? Someone somewhere once told me ( might have been 20 years ago), that paint manufacturers embed a special sort of silicon substance into outdoor paints these days to combat the detrimental effects of dog urine on the nice lustre coatings of Sitting Fences. I dont know if this is true or not. But it could be used as a fact in the campaign to get more people to sign the petition? Just a thought. My Rover pee's a helluva lot. Mostly against lamposts but he likes fences too. A Sitting Fence will be very attractive to Rover and for that reason alone I will join your campaign and sign your petition for a Sitting Fence.

Pigeon, stool says...
5:28pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Rover's owner wrote:
Have you considered the issue of dog urine, I wonder? Someone somewhere once told me ( might have been 20 years ago), that paint manufacturers embed a special sort of silicon substance into outdoor paints these days to combat the detrimental effects of dog urine on the nice lustre coatings of Sitting Fences. I dont know if this is true or not. But it could be used as a fact in the campaign to get more people to sign the petition? Just a thought. My Rover pee's a helluva lot. Mostly against lamposts but he likes fences too. A Sitting Fence will be very attractive to Rover and for that reason alone I will join your campaign and sign your petition for a Sitting Fence.
We've looked into it, and a bloke down the pub told me that dog urine might well affect our Sitting Fence, so, given that we just ignore any potential problems with our idea, and only want to hear the "bed of roses" side of things, we decided not to bother. But if you've got some free paint, that might be nice, yeh. Cheers

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

THE BRICK, @THE ICE RINK says...
5:28pm Fri 29 Aug 08

What an absolute load of twaddle there is on this forum. I guess thats the level of inteligence that tries to destroy everything instead of being creative in their lives.

Have lots of fun sniping and pointing fingers at each other and probably the success that USS have acheived because we got off our butts and proved that there is interest from developers in this city for an ice rink.

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?

Enjoy, I'm outta here to go and enjoy myself, safe in the knowledge that for a few weeks in Southampton the words ICE RINK was put on everybody's lips.

Ha, now thats what I call success.

Pigeon, stool says...
5:30pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
What an absolute load of twaddle there is on this forum. I guess thats the level of inteligence that tries to destroy everything instead of being creative in their lives.

Have lots of fun sniping and pointing fingers at each other and probably the success that USS have acheived because we got off our butts and proved that there is interest from developers in this city for an ice rink.

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?

Enjoy, I'm outta here to go and enjoy myself, safe in the knowledge that for a few weeks in Southampton the words ICE RINK was put on everybody's lips.

Ha, now thats what I call success.
That's what you call success, is it? I thought you were after actually getting the thing built, not just getting people talking about it for a few weeks. You'll be sorry when EVERYONE's talking about our new Sitting Fence! Now that's what I call creative!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

southy, westy, northy, easty any way the wind blows, says...
5:36pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
Rover\'s owner wrote:
Have you considered the issue of dog urine, I wonder? Someone somewhere once told me ( might have been 20 years ago), that paint manufacturers embed a special sort of silicon substance into outdoor paints these days to combat the detrimental effects of dog urine on the nice lustre coatings of Sitting Fences. I dont know if this is true or not. But it could be used as a fact in the campaign to get more people to sign the petition? Just a thought. My Rover pee\'s a helluva lot. Mostly against lamposts but he likes fences too. A Sitting Fence will be very attractive to Rover and for that reason alone I will join your campaign and sign your petition for a Sitting Fence.
We\'ve looked into it, and a bloke down the pub told me that dog urine might well affect our Sitting Fence, so, given that we just ignore any potential problems with our idea, and only want to hear the \"bed of roses\" side of things, we decided not to bother. But if you\'ve got some free paint, that might be nice, yeh. Cheers

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Roses growin along bottom of sitting fence will atract garden people. Tons of roses are shipped into southampton docks, this is fact. So roses on fence is economic idea. Pretty as well

still at it!, says...
5:41pm Fri 29 Aug 08

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?


Plenty, thanks. What makes you think you're the only person that's ever done anything? What makes you think that what we do on this website is ALL we do, and all we've ever done? I've created music that lots of people paid good money to hear. I've been asked for my autograph, been recognised in the street by people I've never met. At least two people have tattoos in my honour, and no, not partners or friends, but people who loved what I did, what I created, what I achieved. I've represented my town, my county in several athletic events, nationally. I've set sporting records. I've had several pieces of my work published. Pretty much everyone in the country has used a piece of software I helped create. Yes, even those who have never used a PC in their lives. I've achieved quite a bit, thanks, and still am. That I choose to spend some of my time here taking the p!ss out of people is irrelevant.

Saying "you lot have never done anything" simply because we're being mean to you is a bit foolish really

southy, redbridge says...
5:42pm Fri 29 Aug 08

oh it is a great success there been people counting the number of hits on this item but not been reading to posts,so you keep it up northy and keep using different names it all helps

Splinter ( Plank's son ), says...
5:50pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Pigeon wrote:
THE BRICK wrote:
What an absolute load of twaddle there is on this forum. I guess thats the level of inteligence that tries to destroy everything instead of being creative in their lives.

Have lots of fun sniping and pointing fingers at each other and probably the success that USS have acheived because we got off our butts and proved that there is interest from developers in this city for an ice rink.

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?

Enjoy, I\'m outta here to go and enjoy myself, safe in the knowledge that for a few weeks in Southampton the words ICE RINK was put on everybody\'s lips.

Ha, now thats what I call success.
That\'s what you call success, is it? I thought you were after actually getting the thing built, not just getting people talking about it for a few weeks. You\'ll be sorry when EVERYONE\'s talking about our new Sitting Fence! Now that\'s what I call creative!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE\'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!
Yeah! You give it to him Pidgeon !

He's just jealous in a girlie neggie way.

He KNOWS our campaign is much more down to Earth than his fluffy campaign. Our Sitting Fence will be rooted in the honest to goodness soil of Southampton.

Betcha, once the Sitting Fence is built he'll be first in line queuing up to pay to sit on it., with his big fat backside.

Splinter number 2 ( Planks other son), says...
6:03pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
What an absolute load of twaddle there is on this forum. I guess thats the level of inteligence that tries to destroy everything instead of being creative in their lives.

Have lots of fun sniping and pointing fingers at each other and probably the success that USS have acheived because we got off our butts and proved that there is interest from developers in this city for an ice rink.

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?

Enjoy, I'm outta here to go and enjoy myself, safe in the knowledge that for a few weeks in Southampton the words ICE RINK was put on everybody's lips.

Ha, now thats what I call success.
We exercised creativity by using humour to highlight the stupidity of your campaign and achieved 100 % success in getting you rattled!

Bite on that, blitherer . . .

southy, westy, northy, easty, any way the wind blows down southampton water and stuck on a sandbank, says...
6:12pm Fri 29 Aug 08

southy wrote:
oh it is a great success there been people counting the number of hits on this item but not been reading to posts,so you keep it up northy and keep using different names it all helps
You must have found your way to the library and got to use the libraries computer spellchecker, because I ( almost ) understand what you are saying.

Anon, Southampton says...
6:57pm Fri 29 Aug 08

I wonder if the developers will include any flats in the plans...

Hurdle, southampton says...
7:07pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Two caterpillars sitting on the fence when a butterfly passes over, one turns and says, you won't get me up in one of those beggers !

Me, Central Soton says...
7:28pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Anon wrote:
I wonder if the developers will include any flats in the plans...
One you thing you can guarantee, it will be an out-of-town development, so the kids will have to be driven there by their parents. Better than nothing, but won't be as well used as an ice rink in town, which can be reached by bus.

Tango, Southampton says...
9:23pm Fri 29 Aug 08

Two top-secret sites have been identified


How will we ever find it?

Bob444, Southampton says...
9:48pm Fri 29 Aug 08

I have no trust in our tory run council.

My guess is that some get-rich-quick outfit will do the ice rink, then a few years later the site will be sold for much money for some other GRQ outfit to build flats on.

Call me cynical if you like...

Splinterette ( PLANK'S daughter ), says...
10:43pm Fri 29 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
What an absolute load of twaddle there is on this forum. I guess thats the level of inteligence that tries to destroy everything instead of being creative in their lives.

Have lots of fun sniping and pointing fingers at each other and probably the success that USS have acheived because we got off our butts and proved that there is interest from developers in this city for an ice rink.

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?

Enjoy, I\'m outta here to go and enjoy myself, safe in the knowledge that for a few weeks in Southampton the words ICE RINK was put on everybody\'s lips.

Ha, now thats what I call success.
You could be a pozzie and see mimicry as a form of flattery?

Nah! Best stay a girlie, neggie.

(I like flattery. Flattery is good. Flattery is Fab.)


Quite frankly...., Orbiting Planet Idiot says...
11:07pm Fri 29 Aug 08

There is no ice-rink. Face facts. Nobody cares.

Donna Kebab, says...
12:52am Sat 30 Aug 08

THE BRICK wrote:
What an absolute load of twaddle there is on this forum. I guess thats the level of inteligence that tries to destroy everything instead of being creative in their lives.

Have lots of fun sniping and pointing fingers at each other and probably the success that USS have acheived because we got off our butts and proved that there is interest from developers in this city for an ice rink.

We did that, what on earth have any of the negative people on this forum ever done?

Enjoy, I'm outta here to go and enjoy myself, safe in the knowledge that for a few weeks in Southampton the words ICE RINK was put on everybody's lips.

Ha, now thats what I call success.
Oooooooo . . . you ARE a tease!

You disappear for days on end just to pop up out of the blue to shower us with a few more of your tantalising, Glittering Generalities, only to take flight again .

I so lurve the sullen, silent, sulky type. I wanna marry you and have your babies.

All Hail the Pigeon, from somewhere waiting to sit on a fence says...
1:10am Sat 30 Aug 08

Classic! 110% success rate in raising a smile. Thank you! :)

branny, UK says...
10:49am Sat 30 Aug 08

The Ice Rink is only part of the picture

The development of a real snow ski and snowboard slope in the south is big business

with most people who want to ride snow in the uk, traveling to MK, Tamworth, Leeds or Manchester a south coast Xscape is a huge blessing.

I've ridden at all the other Xscapes and can only commend the facilities and activities on offer...bring it on Xscape..the sooner the better!

Pigeon, stool says...
10:53am Sat 30 Aug 08

All Hail the Pigeon wrote:
Classic! 110% success rate in raising a smile. Thank you! :)
Now that's what I call a successful campaign!

GIVE US A SITTING FENCE! AND THEN WE'LL SIT ON THE FENCE!

southy, redbridge says...
1:44pm Sat 30 Aug 08

i see northy still cant hold a convo with out using multi names and when proven wrong he become disruptive make me think of a snotty nose kid thats still wet be hide the ears and still has a lot of learning to do

George, says...
2:06pm Sat 30 Aug 08

southy wrote:
i see northy still cant hold a convo with out using multi names and when proven wrong he become disruptive make me think of a snotty nose kid thats still wet be hide the ears and still has a lot of learning to do
Nah, Southy, I think you're reading too much into what was really just a focused bit of Friday afternoon office fun. No office worker does any actual work on a Friday afternoon, they just lark about. See: the above "campaign"!

I read an interesting article on group mentalities, and how they come to exist, particularly in online communities. I'll dig it out for you in a bit

southy, redbridge says...
2:17pm Sat 30 Aug 08

sounds intresting

George, says...
2:22pm Sat 30 Aug 08

southy wrote:
sounds intresting
Here it is. A little on the techie side in places maybe, but interesting nonetheless

http://shirky.com/wr
itings/group_enemy.h
tml

southy, redbridge says...
3:14pm Sat 30 Aug 08

another one who's mum did not like there kid and named them after dirt

George, says...
3:16pm Sat 30 Aug 08

southy wrote:
another one who's mum did not like there kid and named them after dirt
I think I speak for everyone when I say "Huh?". Who are you on about, Southy?

southy, redbridge says...
3:25pm Sat 30 Aug 08

have a look at the guys name on that link

George, says...
3:30pm Sat 30 Aug 08

southy wrote:
have a look at the guys name on that link
Yeh - Clay Shirky. It's not a joke name, Southy, seriously, and the link's from me. Look him up, he's a reputed writer and lecturer on the social and economic effects of the Internet. Writes for the NY Times, Wall Street Journal, Harvard Business Review, loads of places. Maybe you're getting a little paranoid here?

The essay is called "The Group Is Its Own Worst Enemy"

southy, redbridge says...
3:37pm Sat 30 Aug 08

i know its not a joke name i did read it.
it just one of them joke names
poor man must of had years of torrment when he was at school

George, says...
3:49pm Sat 30 Aug 08

southy wrote:
i know its not a joke name i did read it.
it just one of them joke names
poor man must of had years of torrment when he was at school
LOL right, I thought you were mistaking it for another "southy, westy, northy"-type post!

Canadian nor-wester whistling whistfully, says...
12:16am Sun 31 Aug 08

George wrote:
southy wrote:
i know its not a joke name i did read it.
it just one of them joke names
poor man must of had years of torrment when he was at school
LOL right, I thought you were mistaking it for another \"southy, westy, northy\"-type post!
He did !

He's just thick but wont ackowledge it!

live local, southampton says...
2:51pm Sun 31 Aug 08

read the article again and take note
1 Two top-secret sites have been identified in the city centre and the rival developers are in advanced talks with Southamp-ton City Council
if the talks are advanced then it is not a result of a few people shouting and scraping together a petition.

2 The council hopes an ice rink could be an attraction alongside shops, bars, restaurants and other activities such as indoor skydiving, rock climbing and a skateboard park.
So the ice rink is the bit the devlopers are not keen on, as it is ranked after shops, rock climbing, skateboard park etc.

3 The Echo understands one proposal is to build an ice rink as part of multi-million winter sports complex .
So is the other proposal not to build one?

4 He said the Conservative administration wanted to attract operators who could run the ice rink at a profit .
So the council will not fund it (its not likely to happen)

5 Any development is still "years" away from starting construction. ,

So don't get your hopes up


but Cllr Hannides said one developer was already investigating the potential popularity of the rink.

So they don't trust any silly petition or march.

And you can bet that if the temporary ice rink is not an outstanding sucess thern any plans go out of the window.




southy, redbridge says...
6:16pm Sun 31 Aug 08

Canadian nor-wester whistling whistfully wrote:
George wrote:
southy wrote:
i know its not a joke name i did read it.
it just one of them joke names
poor man must of had years of torrment when he was at school
LOL right, I thought you were mistaking it for another \\\"southy, westy, northy\\\"-type post!
He did !

He\'s just thick but wont ackowledge it!
stay of the beers its killing your brain cells thats if you got any left
another one who's mum did not like there kid and named them after dirt
southy wrote:
have a look at the guys name on that link
the clue is his christian name clay

French Mistral meandering towards the mediterranean, says...
6:36pm Sun 31 Aug 08

southy wrote:
Canadian nor-wester whistling whistfully wrote:
George wrote:
southy wrote:
i know its not a joke name i did read it.
it just one of them joke names
poor man must of had years of torrment when he was at school
LOL right, I thought you were mistaking it for another \\\"southy, westy, northy\\\"-type post!
He did !

He\'s just thick but wont ackowledge it!
stay of the beers its killing your brain cells thats if you got any left
another one who's mum did not like there kid and named them after dirt
southy wrote:
have a look at the guys name on that link
the clue is his christian name clay
golly, you have discovered italics.

there may be hope for you yet?

southy, redbridge says...
2:43pm Mon 1 Sep 08

so there might be for me but hope is lost for you French Mistral meandering towards the mediterranean

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