YORK’S popular Christmas ice rink could move to the Museum Gardens next year after losing its traditional home in the Eye of York.

The Ice Factor’s skating rink is currently being set up for the fifth year running in the Eye, against a picturesque backdrop of Clifford’s Tower, the Castle Museum and York Crown Court.

But organisers say City of York Council has made it clear the attraction cannot return there next year following complaints from court officials about noise.

Labour city centre councillor Brian Watson has revealed the authority looked tentatively at both Rowntree Park and the Museum Gardens as alternative locations.

But he said he favoured a city centre location and his initial feeling was that Rowntree Park was too far away, as well as suffering from flooding issues.

Ice Factor spokeswoman Maria Farrugia today ruled out the park, saying its distance from the city centre meant it was not commercially viable.

But she said the Museum Gardens would be an excellent venue, and one which Ice Factor would like to move to if the Eye of York was out of the question.

She said initial talks had already been held with the York Museums Trust, which is responsible for the gardens.

Locations within the city centre, such as Parliament Street, simply were not big enough, she said. Ms Farrugia said in order to avoid disrupting the courts, work in constructing the rink was taking place this year at night, prior to its official opening on Friday, November 13.

Mike Woodward, business development director for the York Museums Trust, said it had been approached and held an initial discussion about the possibility of the Ice Factor moving to Museum Gardens.

He said: “With an event of this size there are many elements to consider, especially in such a beautiful and historic location.

“We have not ruled the idea out at this early stage, but the trust would need to be sure that the event enhanced the gardens and did not detract from them.”

Charlie Croft, the council’s assistant director of lifelong learning and culture, said: “City of York Council is supporting the Ice Factor in looking for an alternative site in the city centre.

“However, Rowntree Park is not being considered as this location is not suitable for operational reasons.”