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Coronavirus Kent: Canterbury Christmas ice rink cancelled due to Covid-19
15:52, 02 May 2020
updated: 17:02, 02 May 2020
An annual Christmas ice rink has been cancelled due to the coronavirus lockdown.
Canterbury On Ice, which is usually held in Dane John Gardens during the festive period, won't take place this year.
The council's decision comes amid uncertainty over how long the UK will be on lockdown.
It also added how trying to socially distance while ice skating would prove difficult.
Head of commercial and cultural development from the council, Caroline Cooper, said: "Canterbury on Ice proved to be a fantastically-popular new addition to the city centre last year generating enormous economic benefits and boosting footfall.
“Last year was our first attempt and we learned a huge number of lessons that we had hoped, if councillors agreed, to put into practice this year to boost the financial viability of the ice rink and put it on the road to making a surplus that we could then invest in frontline services.
“Thank you to everyone who bought a ticket last year, to our advertisers and sponsors, our suppliers and everyone living in the Dane John Gardens for their support. It was a real team effort.”
In total 16,000 people had visited the popular attraction, which brought in £627,000 for the city.
Councillors will need to take a view on what to do in 2021, but no decision will be made for several months.
