Aberdeen Inspired to donate open air ice rink in time for Christmas Bathed in sparkling lights from a nearby Christmas tree, hundreds of egaer skaters pull on plastic hire boots and take to one of many of open air rinks that open up and down the country in the run up to Christmas. Except for Aberdeen that is. Although home to a large ice rink at Aberdeen beach, the city has been without an outdoor rink for a number of years, due to the spiralling costs of hire, assembly and maintenance of such an attraction. But an Aberdeen business network have gotten into the spirit of Christmas and plan to gift an open air rink to the Castlegate for the festive period by putting up the projected £90,000 cost to host the attraction. Susan Bree, chief executive of Aberdeen Inspired told the Evening Express earlier this week: "The Castlegate has traditionally been the focal point of the festive season in the city. We will build on this with the addition of the ice rink, which we believe will help capture the spirit of the season. The plans are still subject to legal and health and safety conditions, but it appears that the Christmas spirit is still alive and well in Aberdeen. On thin ice Aberdeen Inspired's skating plans aren't the first to have been suggested this year, as Aberdeen City Council had planned to bring back the rink and situate it inside Union Terrace Gardens. But at a full council meeting in June, councillors voted to slash the budget for winter activities in half, rendering plans for an open air ice rink defunct. It was suggested that the weather could pose a hazard for installing the attraction, with defrosting rinks in other cities cited as a potential loss of income should the plans go ahead. In fact, in 2000 an outdoor rink in Aberdeen had to be closed after unseasonably warm weather melted the attraction. Asked to weigh up the costs of running the rink for up to two months, councillors voted to ditch the £90,000 plan to focus on other attractions. But with the news of the potential Castlegate rink hitting social media this week, we asked what you thought about the news - and it was all positive. Online Reaction @baldeepcm believes the attraction would bring a welcome boost to the city and would attract visitors. @TornacoilleH also thought the plans would be a boost for the city. @chambertalk commented that the plans would bring a welcome addition to Aberdeen's Christmas celebrations - as well as providing a welcome distraction from present shopping. Skaters Of course, it's not just the general public who will enjoy slipping and sliding on the ice as the city's numerous skating clubs are also delighted that the sport will be highlighted with the inclusion of an outdoor rink. Sara Paterson, who is Aberdeen Synchronized Skating Club's coach, said that the plans would be a welcome boost for the sport. She said: "I definitely think the open rink will bring in skaters. It being right in the centre of town will maybe attract people who wouldn't normally come to our facility. I think if run properly and is a decent surface - not plastic ice - it would be an amazing experience for people in Aberdeen. And I as a coach would love a rink in the centre of town! What do you think about the plans to bring an ice rink to the city centre for Christmas? Let us know at @STVAberdeen and on our Facebook page.