23rd July 2009

Curlers in the north Highlands were disappointed when Brora Ice Rink closed in 2006, leaving them no choice but to travel much further to take part in their sport.  A community group was formed in order to take forward investigations into providing a new facility in the Easter Ross/SE Sutherland area and this group, the North Highland Curling Trust, and it has asked a business consultancy to research the feasibility of creating a new rink. 

Solas Business Services is looking into the potential demand for facilities, where they might be located and where funds can be sourced.  The first step is carrying out a survey of local clubs and individuals.  This will be available on line at the Trust’s website and the Trust encourages you to assist them by taking part.  It will run from 21st July until Monday 10th August and the results will be collated to help the Trust agree the way forward.  If you’ve got any suggestions about what you’d like to see included in such a facility or ideas on where it could be located, please be sure to complete the survey online at surveymonkey.com or contact the Trust direct via their website www.nhct.co.uk.

Trust chairman, Ian MacKay said “All of us involved in curling have sadly missed the Brora facility.  We think the time is right to find out whether it’s possible to develop a new facility in the area but we need information from existing and potential curlers to know whether it’s a goer.  This is a practical piece of research which will give us the information we need to make a decision about what to do next.”