Swindon Council won't 'accept defeat' with attempts to de-list Oasis Centre
The local authority's leader has responded to questions from campaigners
Leader of Swindon Borough Council David Renard does not accept the assertion made in a public question that he should “accept defeat” in trying to have the oasis centre removed from the list of protected buildings.
A series of questions in writing was put to Coun Renard by the Save Oasis Swindon campaign:
“When will Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital accept defeat in that they won’t be able to de-list the Oasis, and instead focus on the restoration?
Coun Renard responded: “Thank you for your questions. All options for bringing the Oasis back into sustainable use continue to be explored by Seven Capital.”
One question is about the £8m bid to the government’s Levelling Up fund for money to help with bringing the centre back into use: “What is the total cost to restore and when will the decision of the Levelling Up Grant be made?”
Coun Renard’s response was: “The costs is a question for Seven Capital and subject to commercial confidentiality. We await an announcement from government on the Levelling Up fund.”
The third question was:
“When will the investigative works start now that listed building consent has been granted? When will Maintenance begin? – and ultimately, the full restoration?
Coun Renard said: “These are questions for Seven Capital to address”.
'Seven Capital are exploring all options to bring the Oasis back into sustainable use'
The campaign asked: “Are Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital regularly working alongside Historic England and the 20th Century Society, and thinking of alternative funding streams? Where are the meeting minutes between SBC, Historic England and Seven Capital?
Coun Renard said: “As mentioned, Seven Capital are exploring all options to bring the Oasis back into sustainable use and the council is working with them in this regard and have made a bid for levelling up funding to support the enormous increase in the cost of refurbishing the Oasis now it is listed.
“The council also has discussions with Historic England however there are no minutes of any meetings with them or Seven Capital. This is because none of the parties requires any of the meetings to be minuted.”
'Is Swindon Borough Council prepared to issue an urgent works notice?'
One question suggested Euclid Street could force the leaseholder Seven Capital to make repairs on the 1976 building and get it open again using an urgent works order.
“Is Swindon Borough Council prepared to issue an urgent works notice to Seven Capital to push them into getting the building back in full working order?
But Coun Renard said that’s not what those powers are for: “Section 54 of the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990 enables local authorities to execute any works that appear to them to be urgently necessary for the preservation of a listed building. To use this power the works must be urgently necessary not just desirable. An Urgent Works Notice cannot be used to bring a Listed Building back into back in full working order.
Seven Capital also has planning permission to build a £35m indoor snow centre across the road from the Oasis, and with it build housing in the area as well.
The campaign wanted to know what was going on there: “What is the status of the ‘Snow centre’ land – is Seven Capital still planning to lay foundations on the site, or will it be forced to relinquish the land if they do not start restoring the Oasis?”
Coun Renard said: “The development agreement is still extant so the question is for Seven Capital.”