FOI: Health and Safety of the Ice Rink at Brent Cross
Received: 3 January 2025
I am emailing about my concerns regarding the ice skating rink at Brent Cross shopping centre. I will also send this communication to the management at Brent Cross.I have copied in Barnet Council into this email as they have a responsibility for Public Safety and ensuring businesses comply with the Health and Safety Regulations.I attended the ice rink with my daughter (11 years), my nephew (10 years) and sister-in-law on 26th December for the 5-6pm skate. The skate started late as the ice needed attention, so customers were allowed on the rink at 5.25pm. There was no clear checking of tickets and getting onto the rink was chaotic. I am sure people who had booked the later slot were also allowed onto the rink. From the start the rink felt unsafe and over crowded. There were numerous falls and most of the skaters were novices. I was concerned from the beginning. My daughter was knocked down 10 minutes in by someone skating too quickly. I was then knocked down from behind. I landed on my wrist, coccyx and knee. I was attended to quickly by one of the rink's skaters. I did not immediately realise my injuries but did feel a pain in my wrist. I came off the rink shortly after this as I did not feel comfortable. I have been in considerable pain for the past week. My knee if extremely tender, my wrist is badly bruised and my coccyx is hurting (I cannot do my usual exercises). I am going to visit the GP.I have sent two emails already to Onice and neither have been answered. Please see communication below.I believe that far too many people were allowed onto the rink and it was not a safe.I can see from Google Reviews that other people had broken bones and injuries from Boxing Day.I would like my money back for the four of us - none of us enjoyed the skate.I would also like to request that the rink take responsibility for acknowledging their role in causing the accident (the over crowding). Under the Freedom of Information Act - I would also like to request how many people were on the rink at this time and whether there is a maximum number that are allowed on.
Outcome / Documents
- Response (not held) - application/pdf - Download