Sorry state of Swindon's Oasis 'deeply upsetting' say campaigners
A new report has criticised the management of the North Star site
Last updated 11th Aug 2022
Campaigners who are battling to re-open Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre say the sorry state of the facility is "deeply upsetting".
Photos, included in a new report investigating the North Star site, have revealed the current condition of the building, which was closed indefinitely in November 2020.
The inspection, from Fusion Building Consultancy, found major damage on the concrete wall surrounding the main pool. It also criticised how the Centre has been managed over recent years.
Seven Capital has been the Oasis leaseholder since 2017, but the facility is owned by Swindon Borough Council.
The consultants say: "It is clear from the inspection that the property has suffered from long-standing and poorly planned or conducted repair and maintenance.
"We have some concerns not only over the technology used in this repair but also the general technology used in the construction of the pool building in particular.
"The repair and maintenance has been reactive at best and ad hoc. It has rarely been planned to prevent long-standing defects and deterioration from occurring".
'Could have been prevented with a bit of regular maintenance'
Since the facility's closure, the Save Oasis Swindon (SOS) campaign group has been urging Seven Capital and Swindon Council to refurbish and re-open the Centre, whilst retaining its original features.
The iconic Oasis dome and swimming pool were Grade II listed by Historic England in December 2021, following an application by charity The Twentieth Century Society. The ruling means that part of the building is protected from demolition.
After the report's damning words, Angela Atkinson from SOS shared her reaction with Greatest Hits Radio.
"It's very upsetting, that is the word for it, and deeply frustrating ... because this all could have been prevented with a bit of regular maintenance over the past few years.
"Are there not moral obligations (for Swindon Council to preserve the Oasis)? They (the Council) talk about protecting Swindon's heritage and history, but they're not!
"Whether you love it or hate it, the Oasis is a key part of Swindon's heritage now ... and if they (the Council) are not looking after that, how are we meant to trust them with other things?" she said.
Ms Atkinson also accused Swindon Council of "constructive vandalism," in its management of the Oasis.
'Invest our energies getting the Centre refurbished and reopened'
In response, Council Leader David Renard said: "When the Oasis was under Council control we would have had a duty to make sure the site was maintained to a high standard and accessible to the public. This we clearly achieved looking at the phenomenal usage over time.
"This recent report has been put forward to see what is needed to help restore the site to that high standard and bring it back into use for future generations.
"Myself, and others in the town, want to look forward and invest our energies in ensuring that this leisure centre is refurbished and reopened as soon as it can be".
Seven Capital has been contacted for comment.