New CGI reveals how Oasis Leisure Centre could look after multi-million transformation thisiswiltshire.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from thisiswiltshire.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
The swimming pool at the Oasis leisure centre OPPOSITION councillors have taken issue with the Conservative administration’s plea to Historic England not to list the Oasis. And the town s former mayor thinks there may be a compelling case to give the 44-year-old leisure centre extra protection.
Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for heritage and culture Dale Heenan wrote to Historic England asking it not to list the Oasis this week, echoing similar calls from leader David Renard. Coun Heenan said the building – closed indefinitely after operator GLL pulled the plug in November – did not deserve it architecturally or historically, and any listing would delay and possibly prevent the multi-million pound refurbishment required to get it open again.
But Coun Renard says he doesn’t think a subsidy from the council is the answer. He wrote: “Some commentators have called for the council to provide funding to enable the leisure centre to reopen when the current Covid-19 restrictions have been lifted, but this would not be a sensible use of taxpayers’ money. “The Oasis is more than 40 years old and despite Seven Capital having spent millions of pounds over the last few years to keep it going, it still requires many more millions to bring it up to modern standards and provide a leisure offer that is sustainable in the long-term.
Save Oasis Swindon have penned an open letter to council leader David Renard Campaigners who want to see the Oasis Leisure Centre reopened as soon as possible have written an open letter to Swindon Borough Council leader David Renard. There are growing fears over the state of the building in North Star, which has sat abandoned since operator GLL decided in November it was no longer a viable concern. Images shared on the Save Oasis Swindon Facebook page show puddles of water under the famous dome and condensation on the windows. After a public virtual meeting of the group last week organiser Neil Robinson said he would write to Coun Renard asking for an immediate assessment of the state of the building, which has been shut since October, and the costs of getting it minimally operational again.