In addition to Linden hockey’s activities, the figure skating club and Korpen are located on the premises. There are a total of three indoor rinks, two of which already have ice. The idea was that the third would have been flushed during the week so that operations can run at full capacity starting on Monday.
But due to the high energy prices, Eskilstuna municipality’s culture and leisure administration has chosen not to wash the ice on the third rink.
Will save millions
It is unclear when the ice will be washed away, says Ola Bjerding, head of the Culture and Leisure Administration. The administration looks over the upcoming costs and believes that they need to save “a couple of million” to meet the budget.
– It is quite a lot to take in for our management, so it will be felt at some facilities.
Now it is unclear when the ice will be flushed.
– It affects the associations that are there negatively, definitely, but it is not that we are completely without ice.
More action pending
He believes that the residents of Eskilstuna can count on there to be more measures like this in the near future.
– You just have to look at how it looks in other countries, such as Germany and England. There, swimming pools have been closed and children are allowed to take cold showers after sports lessons.
For the hockey club, the news that the ice would not be washed came as a surprise. Now they have had to inform their members that the business cannot be up and running to the extent that had been hoped.
– I understand the decision and am well aware of what is happening in the outside world, but it is very regrettable that the municipality chooses not to communicate with us.
The decision was made quickly
Ola Bjerling regrets that they failed to inform Linden Hockey.
– Now it has been fast to make this decision. The fact that they received no feedback from us is substandard. It is clear that we need to reconnect.
In the video clip above, you can hear Linden Hockey about what the decision means for the club