PLANNERS have agreed to the Christmas ice rink and fair returning to York Designer Outlet for years to come, despite protests from Fulford Parish Council about traffic problems and the impact on York's Green Belt and city centre.

Permission was granted by City of York Council's planning committee for a 30 x 27 metre ice rink with a canvas skate hire building with cafe, office and first aid post, funfair with rides, food stall and log cabins on an outlet car park.

Parish representative Karen de Vries said Christmas and New Year were the outlet's busiest time of year with the greatest demand for parking spaces, and many vehicles were often parked along the perimeter route and on grass verges, causing safety issues. Councillors also raised concerns about the effect of car wheels on tree roots.

But ice rink spokeswoman Maria Farrugia spoke of the benefits of the rink, which has been sited at the outlet for the past five Christmases, saying it was a significant tourist attraction for York and provided employment for 50 people.

Committee members spoke of their disappointment it could not be sited in the city centre after having to leave the Eye of York because of objections from the nearby York Crown Court, but leisure executive member Cllr Nigel Ayre said every other potential city centre location had been examined, and none was large enough or suitable in other ways for such a rink.