AT LAST - the image Southampton has been waiting for. This is the first artist's impression of Southampton's longed for public ice skating rink and multi-million-pound arena which is due to be built in the centre of the city.

Construction work on the rink itself will begin in late 2005 if the ambitious scheme is given the green light by city planning chiefs.

Developers Bravo have vowed to press ahead with the project to build the ice rink which should be completed by the end of 2006.

They have decided to build the public ice pad next year as a gesture of confidence that the city will gain one of the government's regional casino licences.

The rink will complement the city's planned Olympic-size ice facility which will be situated in Southampton's arena complex which should be completed by late 2007.

A giant hotel, shaped like a sail will sit on top of the Casino with the arena located between the multi-storey car park which will have a public ice rink on top.

Two other giant apartment buildings - also shaped like iconic sails - are planned which will sit behind the Casino and ice rink.

They will be constructed next to the city plaza and are also likely to be built within the next three years.

Speaking exclusively to the Daily Echo chief executive of Bravo Patrick Nally confirmed that Southampton would "definitely" get its ice pad.

He said: "There is nothing to stop us going ahead with the second ice pad.

"Logistically, it helps us in some ways. It helps us sort out the parking and clear the site which we were going to have to do anyhow."

Question marks still remain over whether the government will grant a licence for Southampton to be the site of a huge new "super-casino which is scheduled to form part of the city's arena project.

City chiefs are currently lobbying the government to grant Southamp-ton one of the eight regional licenses for so called "Super Casinos" which are due to be issued in late 2006.

In the meantime, Bravo has decided to go ahead and build Southampton's public ice rink on top of a multi-storey 180-space car park next to the Grand Harbour Hotel.

The firm plans to have it open before building work starts on the giant 10,000 seat arena and Casino complex which forms the centrepiece of the city's prestigious West Quay Stage Three development which will cost £240m.

Mr Nally added: "We are going ahead with the whole scheme. The only element that is slightly out of our control is the government legislation, but we are all very confident that Southampton will ultimately be given authority to have a regional casino.

"We don't want to sit on our hands in the meantime."

News that the public ice pad would be built first was greeted with delight by the secretary of Southampton's Ice Dance and Figure Skating Club Edna Boden. She said a "whole" generation had missed out on the sport since the city's ice rink had closed in August 1988.

She said: "We are absolutely delighted about the news. The whole project will be so fantastic for everybody in the city.

"The arena is very crucial as well so we can bring international events to the city. With two ice pads we can stage international championships and it is brilliant news that the city will have the chance to do it."

Cash from the casino development will be put towards paying for the arena which will include an Olympic- size ice rink that can be transformed into a 10,000-seat arena for concerts.

The prestigious arena will have the capacity to host concerts featuring big name acts such as Robbie Williams, Kylie Minogue and the Rolling Stones and will be the largest of its kind in the south.

The planned casino would be 65,000 square feet and would be built alongside the arena. It would contain 80 gaming tables and 1,250 slot machines and would create 1,200 new jobs if approved by city planning chiefs.

Plans to build the prestigious West Quay Stage Three development were put under the spotlight at a meeting of the Leader's Portfolio Standing Scrutiny Panel this week.

Members of the panel heard how Southampton's case for becoming a regional casino centre was being put to Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott so that it would form part of the south east's regional plan.

The plan is due to be finalised by April 15 this year.

City council leader Councillor Adrian Vinson said: "Our aspiration to deliver an ice rink and an arena would be a major contribution to the viability of our city. The current partnership offers the best prospect of delivering the project. I remain optimistic that the plan is not only desirable, it is achievable."

A note of caution was added by panel member, Councillor Matt Stevens. He said: "If it does not happen, the council will get the blame."

Final details surrounding the project will be discussed by members of the city council's ruling Liberal Democrat Cabinet in March.

WHEN WILL IT HAPPEN?

Likely timetable for the construction of the ice rink and arena:

City council, arena developers Bravo and US casino operators Ameristar to continue discussions about the development culminating in a "conditional agreement" on the project being reached by mid 2005.

Bravo and Ameristar assist the council during 2005 in making the case to the government for Southampton to be the location of a casino for the south in the South East Regional Plan.

Submit a planning application for the whole development once the above has been achieved by the end of 2005.

Construct the first phase consisting of a multi-storey car park and ice pad in 2006.

Government awards Casino licence to Southampton during 2006?

Construction of arena and Casino begins late 2006/early 2007.