The ice rink in front of the Civic Centre in Swinton has taken a lot of stick, from last year's pink offering to the costs of upkeep. Some of the more vocal Salford residents have called it a "total waste of money" and even "propaganda". But is the criticism justified, from people who actually try it out, or is it political point-scoring and a bit of bah, humbug? Could Cllr John Merry actually be right when he said: "For many residents the economic climate has made this a stressful, uncertain time. We will be doing all we can as an authority to help people through it. In the meantime, we hope that this rink will help provide a little light relief and seasonal cheer." Tom Rodgers investigates. Less