Proposals for a temporary ice rink at Lytham have hit a setback – despite being given the go ahead by local planners.
Last month Fylde Council approved the ice staking scheme for Clifton Square, put forward by Lytham Business Partnership (LBP).
The proposed bespoke real ice rink would be put in place after the Christmas lights switch-on and be open to the public from Saturday, November 22 to Sunday, January 4, 2026.
However, a complication has arisen which could seriously jeopardise the plans.
The project is facing a setback because Clifton Square is classed as a highway, meaning that pedestrians who will be unable to use it temporarily are required to be given a full road closure notice.
This procedure can take as long as 12 weeks, well past the proposed opening date, and will have to go before the Secretary of State.
Road authority Lancashire County Council (LCC) has informed the LPB that the requirement cannot be bypassed.
A spokesperson for LCC said, “We understand the importance of this event to the local community and appreciate the effort involved in bringing it forward. However, a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order (TTRO) is necessary because the installation of an ice rink will involve closing part of the highway and will prevent pedestrians from accessing an area they have a legal right to.”
Suzanne Taylor from LBP said they had spoken with the organisers of the previous ice rink in 2016 and this did not require a TTRO.
She said the legal status of Clifton Square was causing delays and costs. The Lytham Business Partnership, she said, had filed a Freedom of Information request for the occurrences and outcomes of any previous TTROs for Clifton Square since 1997 when it was first formed in its present configuration.
She welcomed the planning approval from Fylde Council and thanked those who had helped in the matter.
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