Curling chiefs have been accused of running Ayr Ice Rink into the ground before announcing its closure.
Scores of clubs who use the privately owned facility will be turfed out from October after last night's bombshell announcement.
But a backlash has already begun - with a row breaking out over the reasons for shutting up shop. Rising energy costs have been blamed by rink owners Ayrshire Curlers Ltd, who say their daily electricity bill will more than double after the autumn.
Curlers last night pointed to the war in Ukraine for melting any chance of the ice rink remaining sustainable at Limekiln Road - insisting they would need to generate an extra £150,000 in income to cover costs over the next year.
That will leave hundreds of figure skaters and junior ice hockey players with no home - along with dozens of curling clubs who use the ice.
But Alex Strachan, chair of the Ayr Bruins ice hockey club, told the Ayrshire Post: "This is not an overnight problem caused by the war in Ukraine – you only have to look at how many times the ice rink has been placed under threat in recent years.
"The facility has not been looked after as it should and how many times have we read stories about the rink being at risk of closure? That tells you all you need to know.
“The owners have consistently been at the door of South Ayrshire Council looking for financial help for many years now. But as they are privately run, they cannot expect the council to ride to their rescue.
"We've tried to engage with the curlers for a long time now over a route forward and various ideas have been proposed to boost income streams. The gravity of this decision cannot be underestimated.
“This will have a devastating impact on our clubs and kids, many of whom we already lose to other clubs elsewhere in Ayrshire and beyond due to lack of access to the ice."
Gillian Otterson, hugely respected coach at Kyle Figure Skating Club, has helped take many young skaters from the ice at Ayr through to compete at British level.
She said: "The positive impact sport has on mental health, resilience, physical and social wellbeing is widely documented. The ice rink plays a big role in supporting the youngsters in our community.
“The impact of the rink shutting would have a devastating effect on their mental health in particular - a situation the coaches and parents of these children cannot bare to contemplate.”
Curlers insisted their decision had been "unavoidable" due to the "unprecedented hike in energy costs”.
Andrew Kerr, managing director of Ayrshire Curlers Ltd, said: The reality is that the average daily cost for electricity will rise from £419 to £880 – an increase of £461 each and every day of the year and we would have to generate more than £150,000 additional income to cover our energy costs never mind wage increases and inflationary increases on all the other expenses of running an ice rink. It simply cannot be done.”
Ayr MSP, Siobhian Brown, said: "Rising energy costs have become an unbearable burden for many businesses, and the closure of the ice rink is a stark reminder of the devastating consequences. It is disheartening to witness the lack of effective measures and support from the UK government to address this pressing issue, which has left our community bereft of this vital asset."
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