COUNCIL chiefs have re-employed the controversial pink rink bosses who still owe them £65,000 from last year.

Salford council is owed the cash by North West Funfairs which staged the rink and funfair on the lawns in front of Swinton Civic Centre, on Chorley Road.

After the council threatened legal action, the firm agreed to pay the debt at £1,000 a month for the next five years.

There was outrage over the billed ‘winter wonderland’ event last year, with people complaining the gardens had been turned into a quagmire.

Despite the debt, North West Funfairs were hired again to run a funfair at the annual Bonfire Night fireworks display in Buile Hill Park on Wednesday.

On the same day the council also announced they would be staging a bigger and better pink rink extravaganza this year.

It will cost £185,087, with £37,000 being clawed back from ticket sales and £28,000 through sponsorship.

Among the ‘sponsors’ are £10,000 from Urban Vision - the council’s own planning department - plus Salford Primary Care Trust and possibly Greater Manchester Police Authority.

Council leader John Merry refused to confirm whether North West Funfairs had been rehired.

He said: "It is not appropriate to discuss detailed contractual arrangements made with suppliers but I can confirm that outstanding monies from last year’s event are being repaid.

"No decision has been made on who our partner or partners will be in staging this year’s event."

Tory councillor for Walkden South Iain Lindley has accused the ruling Labour group of preparing to offload a bill of £147,587 for the rink on to the Salford taxpayer.

He said: "The total cost of bringing the pink rink back to the Civic Centre is £185,087.

"The council suggests this can be partly offset by £28,000 sponsorship and £37,000 in ticket sales, which still leaves a shortfall of £119,587 to be picked up by the council taxpayer.

"In addition, the £28,000 sponsorship money includes £10,000 from Urban Vision, which is partly owned by the council, so the council is effectively sponsoring itself which seems absolutely ludicrous.

"I’ve no objection in principle to the ice rink but the costs would seem to far outweigh the benefits."