SECRETARY of State for Communities and Local Government, Sajid Javid, has thrown his weight behind a campaign to bring ice skating back to the Isle of Wight.
As part of his visit to the Isle of Wight today (Thursday) he met with campaigners at Ryde Arena to show his support for the Save Our Rink Community Group - which has formed Wight Ice Leisure Ltd in a bid save the rink.
The group has been working with the Isle of Wight Council and other partners to see if a way can be found to save the facility.
As previously reported, AEW, the rink's leaseholders, recently put the lease up for sale for £3.5 million - more than three times the price it originally paid for it, despite the fact the rink is now in a far worse condition than when AEW acquired it.
A vote by Ryde Arena Community Action Group confirmed the group was in favour of buying the lease under the Localism Act.
Mr Javid's intervention came during a visit to the Island to support local Conservatives.
For a full report on the visit, please see tomorrow's issue of the County Press.