So… we’ve come to the end of another year, and this time, things are looking decidedly rosier for the future of ice in Durham.

Those of you who attended the Christmas Get Together earlier in the month will have been updated on where things stand at the moment, and though things have been quiet in the public domain recently, rest assured wheels have been turning considerably behind the scenes regarding the proposed Durham Arena development. As  the Foundation understands it, numerous meetings with investors, the local Council and land owners have taken place in the last few months since the plans were announced – all with positive feedback and outcomes. The next few months of the new year are obviously extremely important in moving the project forward, and we’re confident that we’ll be able to bring you news of concrete developments as and when they happen. 

As was discussed at the Christmas Get Together, the global economic slump is obviously affecting all aspects of business at the moment, and though this has slowed down negotiations regarding the proposed development in Durham, we’re told the knock-on effects shouldn’t hold too much of an impact, and that even in some regards, may make a leisure development a more attractive proposition.

We’re expecting a planning application to be formally filed early in 2009 which will be the next significant milestone in making the project become a reality. Media interest in the development remains high, and filming for a BBC programme following the new Arena’s progress and the history of ice in Durham has also recently begun.

Finally, we’d just like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and we hope that 2009 brings us closer to seeing the rink we’ve been waiting almost 13 years for.