Reading ice rink plans on the agenda

Plans for an ice rink-led winter wonderland to return to Reading over the Christmas period look set to be approved.Premier Winter Wonderland Events Limited is behind the application for Reading Winter on Ice, which would also comprise ancillary side stalls.The company carried out the same event – also located at Hills Meadow car park – over the Christmas period from 2021 to January 2022 and again the following year, with a planning statement noting that it was a “great success”.The applicant has subsequently applied for another temporary change of use to the Hills Meadow Car Park to an ice rink, with a marquee structure housing skate hire and ancillary side stalls, for a period of time not to be before 15 October 2023 and not to extend beyond 21 January 2024 for a period of one year.The rink would have a capacity for 118 skaters per 45 minute session. There would also be several individuals waiting for the next session, which could also be up to 118 people.”Any harmful impacts of the proposed development are required to be weighed against the benefits in the context of national and local planning policies,” said a report drawn up ahead of Reading Council’s planning committee meeting on 4 October.”Having gone through this process, officers consider that the short-term harm to the appearance of The Thames Valley Major Landscape Feature is outweighed by the economic benefit of the event and the fact that the site will be returned to its original state after 21 January 2024.”