A FRESH bid to provide a long-awaited ice rink in Southampton will be decided by council chiefs today.

The ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet is considering bids for a derelict piece of land off St Mary's Road, east of the Charlotte Place roundabout.

It is thought that one of the bidders is prepared to build an ice rink as part of a mixed-use scheme on the land. The Southampton-based developer is not believed to be the recommended bidder among a confidential list.

Kerry Payne from the Southampton Ice Dance and Figure Skating club, which has been a vociferous rink campaigner, said: "If a developer wants to build an ice rink there, it would be ideal for the people of Southampton.

"It would have easy access from public transport and it would be in reach of the town centre and other facilities for members of a family who didn't want to skate."

Mr Payne said he understood the rink would come at no cost to tax-payers. But Labour ward councillor, Derek Burke, warned that the plot wasn't big enough and the parking would be "horrendous". Mr Burke explained: "I would prefer to see social housing to meet the needs of local people. Perhaps they will surprise us."

Council leaders must decide who to sell the land to. The cash will re-invested in health and sports in Bevois Valley and Bargate.

The council took possession of the site eight years ago when it planned to build a healthy living centre, but public and private funding collapsed.

Acceptable uses now include offices, hotel, residential, shops, community use of sports facilities. The council says it has received a "range of offers" for mixed-use development.

One of these offers proposed more land than was being offered which would require a re-tendering process. Acceptance of a lower bid could also require the consent of the secretary of state.

The council last week had its first meeting to start a "scoping exercise" on the demand for and commercial operators' interest in building a community ice rink in Southampton with between 1,000 and 1,500 seats. It follows the recommendations of a £22,500 report presented by consultants PMP which included a list of 11 sites.

Leisure bosses say the level of demand will dictate what size pad is required and which sites should be explored. The council wants to make sure interest in skating is not a fad and that a community rink would be sustainable. A feasibility study is likely to be carried out in the summer.

The council says the study could be shelved if an "affordable, deliverable and sustainable" ice rink proposal came forward.

The Cabinet gave the go-ahead for the process earlier this month, alongside planning work for a temporary Christmas Ice rink.