By Laurie Watt 

In a flash move, Barrie council decided Monday night to decommission the Barrie Arena and make way for the new Fire and Emergency Services headquarters.

Last week, councillors were poised to put the decision on hold, pending consultation with the Simcoe County District School Board. This week, however, after hearing the old arena does not meet fire and building codes, partially due to the wood rafters, roof deck and seats – councillors decided to clear the way for a new fire station there.

“This decision is not good for the downtown community,” said Ward 2 Coun. Jeff Lehman, as he tried to stop closing the arena. He said closing the arena could have domino effects that run contrary to the city’s downtown revitalization plans.

“This decision will not only close one facility, but potentially affect several. Downtown revitalization is about more than commercial redevelopment. Downtown revitalization is about strong neighbourhoods.”

He added closing the arena and locating a fire station there, “affects the options the school board will have with the future of Barrie Central. The school board feels very strongly the city needs to consider the whole impact (on the entire site, which contains not only Central Collegiate, but also Prince of Wales elementary school).”

Keeping the Barrie Arena open, however, would require major upgrades, and it would also delay the construction of the Painswick recreation centre, which is slated to open in 2014; the city now has more than enough ice to meet its needs, said the city’s recreation director Sid Armatage.

Fire Chief John Lynn added moving Station 1 to Dunlop Street would improve response times in the city’s north end – especially in the Bayfield Street area near Livingstone and Hamner streets.

Ward 7 Coun. John Brassard said the city needs to think not only of the costs of keeping the arena open and of having to relocate the emergency services personnel and equipments – costs that would add two per cent to taxes this year alone – but also the impact on response times in the growing northern neighbourhoods.

He added he understood the emotional aspect of the debate surrounding the Barrie Arena, which dates back to the 1930s.

“The decisions to close the Montreal Forum and Maple Leaf Gardens were far more difficult, given the storied histories of each of those buildings. I see this objectively and unemotionally, keeping in mind our strategic planning (for our fire and emergency services, as well as downtown revitalization),” he said.

“The costs alone cannot justify the expenditure. The school board issue has to be considered, but it is a school board issue. The decision to close Barrie Central is not something Barrie council should be dealing with.”