Plans to build Europe's largest skating park in Barnet are under threat after council planners refused to allow developers to build covered roller hockey courts.

The £2.25million, 4.5 acre, privately-funded scheme was planned to incorporate inline, quad, roller, ice, figure skating and sledge-hockey on the south-east corner of the North Circular, which is near Colney Hatch Lane.

However, Norman Silver, of the London Association of Skater Hockey (LASH), said that the council's planning department has insisted on there being no covered roller hockey courts, a detail he claims could scupper the whole project.

"All we want is ten per cent of the land to be covered. If the roller hockey pads aren't covered, it is extremely dangerous," he said.

"Our backers Structadene, who are putting up £1.5million of the money, are now so fed up with Barnet planners dragging their heels that they are threatening to pull out.

"All we need is for the planners to let us build the covered pads and you will find that 1,000 residents will be glad to get this project up and running."

A consultation with residents last year gave unanimous support to the proposals, as it would create the first skate park of its kind in the country.

The plans also include building the largest man-made ice pad in the country.

A spokeswoman for Barnet Council said the authority would not comment on the skate park plans until a planning application had been received.

July 3, 2002 16:00