I WAS sorry to hear about the possible closure of the Odeon Cinema in York.

I was even more sorry to hear the suggestions to build flats on the site.

It would be a shame to see the cinema close. But if it must I, like many others, should like to see another leisure facility built in its place: an ice rink.

York is a beautiful city but lacks activities and leisure facilities for its residents, especially children.

When I was a child living on the Chapelfields estate we signed a petition for an ice rink to be built in York. As usual, nothing ever came of it.

An ice rink in York's centre would give children an ideal meeting place to socialise, exercise and enjoy hours of fun, and keep many off the streets.

My daughter is a member of the York Whitehawks roller hockey team, it is full of ambitious and dedicated children who love to skate.

We were at the opening of the temporary ice rink at the Eye Of York. It was a great experience.

The Whitehawks loved being on the ice and would like to have a permanent rink now the the temporary one has proved such a success. If Rotherham, Hull, Bradford, Sheffield and Doncaster can have an ice rink why can't York?

Adele Brolly,

Danebury Drive,

Acomb, York.

Updated: 12:26 Wednesday, December 10, 2003