Moray MP calls for end to energy price ‘discrimination’ as high bills blamed for controversial Elgin ice rink closure
Moray Leisure Centre’s board sent shockwaves through the local community when they announced their ice rink would close on August 4 due to “spiralling energy costs” at the facility.
In the wake of this announcement, Graham Leadbitter, MP for Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey, has written to Ed Milliband, the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, to highlight the impact of rising energy costs on the future of the rink.
In his letter, Mr Leadbitter, who is the SNPs Spokesperson on Energy at Westminster, outlined the “cripplingly expensive” price of energy faced by those in the north of Scotland, where organisations like Moray Leisure Centre have seen their energy costs double in recent times.
He continued: “This is just another example of energy price discrimination faced by people across Scotland, and indeed in my constituency of Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey.
“Not only are individual households acutely aware of the rising energy costs, particularly in the north of Scotland where we have some of the coldest climates, but to vital service provision like the ice rink at Moray Leisure Centre, these costs for have become so high they are closing their doors.
“Last month, we learned of a scheme designed to reduce costs for energy-intensive businesses. This needs to cover energy intensive public services a well and the UK government needs to act urgently.
“We are sick of energy price discrimination in the north of Scotland and the damage it is doing. It needs to stop.”
A petition calling for the closure plans to be shelved has already raised thousands of signatures, while a protest outside Moray Leisure Centre saw around 250 turn out to make their views known.
Elgin City North Labour Councillor Sandy Keith said that facilities such as Moray Leisure Centre needed to be “properly funded” by the Scottish Government to have a sustainable long-term future.
He continued: “Labour councillors are focussing our efforts on making the positive case to save the ice rink, including pressing the energy supplier for a better deal.”
“If we want to save local facilities like the ice rink then local services need to properly funded by the Scottish Government.
“When he was a councillor I genuinely thought Mr Leadbitter believed in better funding for local services, but now he’s an MP he won’t stand up to his masters in Edinburgh and say so.”
SNP councillors Jérèmie Fernandes (Elgin City North) and Shona Morrison (Fochabers-Lhanbryde) urged Moray Council to call an emergency meeting during the summer recess, however this was turned down by council leader Councillor Kathleen Robertson (Conservative, Forres) and the local authority’s CEO Karen Greaves. They said that more information was required before a report could be brought before councillors for debate, something that would take some time to achieve.