Freezing and maintaining a huge slab of ice outside in ambient temperatures of around 8 degrees must take huge amounts of electricity - presumably supplied by EON's local Ratcliffe on Soar power station, one of the most polluting in the country, especially as it burns coal, the most problematic fossil fuel in terms of CO2 emissions. (Protestors took direct action to close this power station down last April...see www.indymedia.org.uk/en/2007/04/367679.html for details. They are on trial for this in Nottingham Court in January.)

So, maintaining this bit of artificial ice in the market square for a few weeks will be helping to deplete arctic sea ice (rather more important for planetary health!), essentially permanently. Nice sense of irony, EON! And it's not as if Nottingham is particularly short of ice-skating opportunities - the National Ice Centre is 10 mins walk from the market square!

Another interesting question - who is paying for this waste of energy - EON, or the Council Tax payers?