Gloucester ice rink and festive market has secured its future in the city for the next five years.

Last night (Oct 1) councillors unanimously approved an application to bring the festive attraction to the city every winter until 2029.

It means Gloucester Quays can go ahead with plans to erect the festive hub each year on land at Orchard Square in Llanthony Road, High Orchard Street, Merchants Road, Victoria Dock and Mariners Square.

It has permission to use the site from October 28 to January 18 each year and build a 450 sqm covered ice rink with 300sqm of ancillary buildings, plant and observation areas.

It would be open from approximately November 14 to January 5 each year and is expected to attract 30,000 skaters annually.

The Christmas Market will be formed from up to 36 cabins, 25 marquees, 74 stalls and a number of food and beverage pitches .

It will run weekends only from November 14 until December 7, with set up commencing no earlier than October 28 and the site cleared by December 13.

The Quays has been running the event since 2016 under a series of temporary permissions, the latest of which has expired.

Simon Metcalfe, Alder King planning agent, spoke on behalf of the applicant at the Gloucester City Council planning meeting last night.

He said the Quays had worked hard to engage with stakeholders and residents over the years to minimise any inconvenience from the event and the new proposals included further improvements.

They include the ice rink being covered to minimise noise and make it usable in all weathers, acoustic screening and revisions to the timing and layout of the market.

He said there have been no complaints regarding noise in the past three years and the proposal struck an "appropriate balance between the amenity of local residents and commercial interests of the wider city".

He said: "The Christmas market and ice rink make a significant contribution to the economic success of the city over the Christmas period, drawing in customers from a wide area."

He added: "This event is widely supported, including by the BID and the Docks stakeholders. It will continue to be managed by the Gloucester Quays event team who have an excellent track record in managing large scale events in and around the historic Docks."

One objection was received to the application which stated the period of three months for the event each year was "unreasonably long, given the inconvenience and the additional noise, smell and disruption imposed on the many residents who live at the Docks".

Officers recommended the proposal was allowed as overall it complied with planning regulations and was "likely to have positive benefits for the economy and for tourism."

They said if the Quays pulled out of the event another operater would be able to utilise the planning permission so the event could still run.

Councillors were told improvemtns to the plans included the number of generators being reduced to just one back-up machine, as there was now mains access on the site.

Cllr Alwin Wiederhold (LB, Hucclecote) said it should be battery operated to rescue fossil fuel emissions in the city centre and he questioned whether the permission should be granted for such a long period.

"The city may choose in the next three years to bring more business to Kings Square and that part of Gloucester and we would then lose that opportunity to possibly use King square for an ice rink, because we've already given permission to another area," he said.

Cllr Roseanna Marshall (L, Barton and Tredworth) said she supported the plans but also raised concerns about the event eventually taking away trade from the city centre.

"I think we just need to take into consideration that we've got the Forum built there and we've got other businesses setting up and things might just change in the dynamics in the next five years," she said

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Cllr Andy Lewis (C, Quedgeley Severn Vale) said the event brought a lot of money into businesses at the Docks and wider city centre."It's something we want," he said. "This is to be absolutely welcomed. The fact it is for the next five years gives them stability so they can invest into the buildings.

"To me,it's a no brainer so let's get on and good luck to them."

Cllr Pam Tracey (C, Westgate) said the ice rink and Christmas market was needed and residents in the area "know what they are buying" when they move there and often benefit from discounted tickets to events.

She added: "It's good, and I'm glad they chose Gloucester for the next five years."

The planning committee voted unanimously to approve the application.