Swindon Oasis re-opening plans met with concern by campaign group

Swindon Borough Council are aiming to submit refurbishment plans later this year

Author: Aaron HarperPublished 17th May 2024

Plans to re-open Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre have been met with concern by a campaign group that's spent years fighting for it's revival.

Swindon Borough Council and developers SevenCapital have agreed a plan to refurbish and reopen the facility.

The plans include a pool, wave machine and slides.

It's been closed since 2020.

Campaigners remain concerned

Neil Robinson, who founded Save Oasis Swindon, has welcomed the latest step towards doors opening again, but is worried by the omission of a Sports Hall from the plans.

He told Greatest Hits Radio that the lack of dry areas could doom the facility to closure again in the future as it cuts off a critical revenue stream.

"We're concerned. The Oasis was famous, not just for the pool, but the Sports Hall, the music and all the live events they had there," he said.

He added: "To not have the dry-side, it's going to put the Oasis at risk of closure again."

He says the fact that council has only committed to a 10-year keep open clause, suggests a lack of long-term confidence in the facility.

Mr Robinson said: "I spoke to the original manager of the Oasis a few months ago, he said the Oasis pool won't survive without a dry side."

He also expects objections from Sport England who are understood to already be unhappy with the loss of the sports hall through the venue being closed.

"We've got a massive lack of leisure facilities for a town of our size," Mr Robinson.

He's encouraging people in Swindon to object to these latest plans to ensure revised plans can include a sports hall.

"It's the right thing to do. I don't want to see the Oasis re-opened for 10 years and then closed down and never reopened again. We'd be back to square one.

"The hall props the rest of the centre up," he said.

Council include buy-back clause in agreement

Councillor Jim Robbins, Leader of Swindon Borough Council, said: “I am really pleased that after many months of working with SevenCapital we have delivered a deal which will not just see the Oasis reopened, but will preserve the famous dome, the wave machine and of course the fabulous slides that were synonymous with the facility for so many years. These were what local people said they cherished most about the leisure centre and we have made keeping them a priority.

“We have also inserted a buy-back option for the Oasis and a keep-open clause because it is vital we have safeguards in place to ensure what has happened previously does not happen again.

“We are closer than we have ever been to seeing the Oasis reopened for local people to enjoy once again and now the ball is firmly in SevenCapital’s court to agree a lease with a tenant and confirm the specifications that will give the Oasis a long-term sustainable future.

“I look forward to seeing the planning application coming forward later this year.”

Damien Siviter, Group Managing Director at SevenCapital added: “SevenCapital and Swindon Borough Council have a mutual goal of breathing new life into the Oasis for the community and future generations to enjoy.

“We’re delighted to have reached this agreement, which marks a positive step forward, and look forward to a continued close working partnership with the Council as we push ahead with our plans.”

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