A NEW company has been set up that hopes to purchase the lease for Ryde Arena, in order to put the ice rink back in the hands of the community.
Wight Ice Leisure Limited was officially registered on Wednesday (22), following a vote at Ryde Arena Community Action Group's last meeting.
The new company will be the legal entity which will conduct negotiations with the current leaseholder AEW and will raise funds towards an attempt to acquire the ice rink for the community.
On Thursday, the company registered an interest with the Isle of Wight Council in being treated as a potential bidder for the lease.
Ryde Arena is an asset of community value, which means that now the community has lodged an interest to take it on, a six month moratorium is triggered over the sale of the lease.
Robina Marshall, chair of the Ryde Arena Community Action Group, said: "There is a great deal of work yet to be done and a long hard battle to be fought, but this is a very important step in the process."