MANCHESTER Phoenix ice hockey fans are celebrating a new future for the club and ice sports in general, following full approval of plans for a new ice rink in Altrincham

Trafford Borough Council's Planning Committee met on Thursday January 5 for final consideration of the plans submitted by nIce Leisure, the company responsible for the development, and after a lengthy meeting, a vote was taken and the outcome was unanimously in favour of the new ice facility.

Phoenix Managing Director Neil Morris said: "We've come a long way to get to this moment. It's taken a while longer than we expected but, we feel that we have done this exercise professionally and diligently, and the vote tonight, whilst stressful, was a marvellous experience.

"I'm not a father yet, but the feeling I had when the unanimous verdict was announced must be similar to that of a father at the birth of a first child - I'm delighted, not just for myself and the hockey club, but for everyone who wanted a new ice facility in the area."

The next stage of the scheme will be production of a building schedule, with construction intended to be finished and the building operational in July.

Morris added: "I have a lot of people to thank for their roles in bringing this venture to the stage where we're close to breaking soil and I will get around to that. I'd also like to thank the members of Trafford Borough Council for their thoroughness in examining and ultimately approving these plans.

"I believe that together with developers Nikal David McLean, we will build a facility to be proud of and that together with Mike Petrouis, my partner in 'nIce Leisure,' we will build a ice sports and recreational programme to do justice to the great sporting tradition of the area."