Liability Insurance Haunts Effort to Open Oxford Arena

Oxford Town Councillors discovered tonight just how difficult it can be to hand over the keys to the community's recreation facility.

Council voted last week to accept a community group's proposal to take over operations of the Oxford Arena, which was closed in the spring due to financial pressures and the covid-19 pandemic.

The local Lion's Club, with support from other community members and a donation, had hoped to get the ice in and have the facility open for activities quickly.

While the Town Council approved the idea, the nuts and bolts of hammering out a lease agreement that addresses liability and insurance issues is still a roadblock. 

The town's insurance provider is reviewing the draft lease agreement that will cover a third party managing the facility, but time is short and the holidays are upon us.

The arena's ice is apparently ready, as council approved early access for the community group to get a head start on that part of the process prior to the lease signing.

All are hopeful the persnickety details will be dealt with as soon as possible... but so far, we have no hard date for when the arena will be open.

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