THE owners of a legendary roller rink which closed down after three decades have revealed they are now exploring ways to “keep skating going in Colchester”.

Rollerworld, in Moorside, shut down after 32 years of business on November 30, despite owners Anne and Jason Khan agreeing to their landlord’s rent increase.

The couple, who moved into the facility back in 2018, had initially been reluctant to pay Petchey Holdings’ £250,000 a year asking price.

Bosses at the property firm previously told the Gazette they considered the terms for the new lease to be “below the market rate.”

Gazette:

Anne, however, has now said they are looking to hopefully reopen Rollerworld but within a different building - ideally one which they will buy outright.

She said: “We are looking to buy something because if we can do that then Rollerworld is protected forever.

“Finding somewhere is difficult and taking forever but we are open to all options – be it a larger venue or a smaller, temporary one just to keep us going for a little while.

“We want to set up a charity in order to do it and we have some amazing people standing with us if it is able to happen, but we are looking for investors too.

“We just want to keep skating going in Colchester.”

Since its emotional farewell, volunteers from the community and soon-to-be laid-off staff have clubbed together to clear out the venue before the February 5 deadline.

So far they have managed to remove all of the lightning rigs and they are currently in the process pulling up the skating rink one piece of Canadian maple at a time.

Gazette:

“Everything is going into containers and everything is being taken up individually so it can be re-laid, hopefully in Rollerworld 2,” added Anne.

“Skating is a real community and we always been close knit - we have definitely been overwhelmed by the kindness shown to us. People do care.

“Staff are all still helping out even though they are going to be made redundant. It is amazing and this kindness is keeping us going.

“We would like to personally thank Travis Perkins, all our volunteers and our incredible staff that have shown unbelievable kindness over this period.”