Political attacks and name-calling. Has Save Oasis Swindon gone off the rails?
A call for calm and cool heads during a doubtful time for the leisure centre's future
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Save Oasis Swindon needs to calm down the rhetoric and actually work with the council and SevenCapital to get the town the best possible solution
The Oasis Leisure Centre, once the crown jewel in Swindon’s leisure facilities, has stood empty since November 2020 after operators GLL announced it was no longer sustainable. Owned by SevenCapital, its only visitors now are guerrilla urban explorers and the occasional film crew. Last week plans to revamp and reopen the complex were finally given planning permission by the borough council but on the same evening plans to develop up to 707 flats on the site were rejected, putting a massive fly in the ointment as this was how the revamp was going to be paid for.
Damien Siviter, Group Managing Director at SevenCapital, said: "The outcome from the planning committee, whereby the outline plans for housing on the Oasis site were refused permission, is a major blow for the Oasis and subsequently for Swindon. As the key part of the overall scheme that is absolutely crucial to funding the restoration and revival of the Oasis, this is an enormous setback for the Swindon community, calling into question whether the Oasis will ever now reopen.”
By Jamie Hill
We are living in a bizarro world.
Up is now down. Left is now right and cats and dogs are living in loving harmony.
We are now living in a reality where a campaign group which calls itself Save Oasis Swindon were actually celebrating the fact that the leisure centre they had been campaigning for all these years was not going to be ‘saved’.
In the immediate aftermath of the planning committee decision to refuse SevenCapital permission to build housing on the site, putting the entire future of the leisure centre ever reopening in jeopardy, the campaign group were jubilant as if they had just won a major victory.
One post on Facebook summed it up.
“Jim Robbins ain't singing anymore. Housing refused for Oasis. Meanwhile, we are singing Oasis.”
And from that point on the standard of discourse from Save Oasis Swindon descended to a playground level, with Swindon Borough Council’s Labour administration and especially council leader Jim Robbins taking the brunt of the personal and political insults whilst the Conservative opposition, who the campaign group seem to have conveniently forgotten caused the current situation, were lauded as heroes who stood up for what is right.
It’s been non-stop. A non-stop barrage of anti-Labour rhetoric from Save Oasis Swindon with calls for every Labour councillor to resign. A whipped-up online hate mob with no dignity whatsoever. There was even a ‘leaked’ private letter from The Conservatives to the SBC Chief Executive claiming that Jim Robbins had whipped up votes, that somehow found itself in the hands of Save Oasis Swindon (claims that Cllr Robbins immediately dismissed as nonsense).
At one point on a totally separate Swindon Borough Council Facebook thread, which had nothing to do with The Oasis, Neil Robinson, who runs Save Oasis Swindon and has obviously been learning from the Donald Trump school of midnight social media trolling, described another Labour councillor Marina Strinkovsky as ‘vile’.
Let’s just say the situation has become more toxic than a Thames Water sewage outlet.
It might just be heat of the moment emotional behaviour from the campaign group but they really need to calm things down to get what is best for Swindon.
But how have we come to this?
It’s actually really complicated but back in 2012, Swindon Borough Council’s Conservative administration transferred The Oasis site to Morai Capital Investments on a 99-year lease.
At the same time the running of Swindon’s leisure facilities, including The Oasis, were transferred to Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL).
It could be argued that if The Oasis and its land had never been privatised by the previous Conservative administration we would not be in the position we are today but there is also the reality that the council were no longer in a position to financially afford the leisure centre’s upkeep so something had to be done.
Originally Morai Capital had big plans for the site, promising not just to improve the Oasis but create a vast redevelopment including a ski centre and large concert venue around it, projected to attract four million visitors a year.
But this all came to nothing and the council eventually scrapped the development deal, with Morai handing over the lease to SevenCapital, who also promised the world with one of the country's largest indoor ski centres, an iMax cinema, concert venue and hotel complex on the surrounding site.
In November 2020 after the second covid lockdown, operator GLL handed back its lease saying the building was no longer a viable business proposition.
The Oasis fell into a state of disrepair and Save Oasis Swindon were formed.
At first the campaign group’s goals were simple - reopen The Oasis - and as a campaign group they managed to garner support from across the town.
But then in 2021, SevenCapital revealed plans for the site to reopen the leisure centre. And all hell broke loose as the plans did not include the historic and iconic dome.
Save Oasis Swindon then successfully campaigned, alongside the Twentieth Century Society, for the leisure centre and its dome to be listed. This was despite SevenCapital stating that the Grade II listing would make it that much less viable to revamp the Oasis site.
In November 2023, a revised planning proposal was then revealed by SevenCapital to develop the entire site including a refurbed and revamped Oasis Leisure Centre keeping the now listed dome. This would be paid for by a housing development on the site.
In December 2024 detailed plans were finally submitted by SevenCapital to the council.
Save Oasis Swindon objected to the application as it would mean the loss of the sports hall as part of the leisure centre. They were supported by Sport England and started a campaign to save the sports hall.
Wilts and Berks Canal Trust also did not support the plans as the housing development would interfere with the proposed route of the canal if it was ever successfully re-established.
The planning applications were further delayed until last week after Save Oasis Swindon put in two unsuccessful bids to make the sports hall and the site as a whole Assets of Community Value.
In the meantime they called on everyone and anyone to object to the applications.
In the planning committee meeting, SevenCapital had put forward four applications.
- Re-ordering, demolition in part and new construction, including associated site clearance and engineering works
- An outline planning application for or multi-storey residential development of up to 707 apartments
- An outline planning application for what are termed 'employment units' - business and similar premises, in other words
- The relevant Listed Building consent, as parts of the centre have had Grade II Listed status since late 2021
All but the residential development were approved.
Conservative Group Leader Cllr Gary Sumner, urging refusal of this aspect of the bid, said the plans for flats included no affordable housing, made no provision for education and no provision for adequate parking.
The meeting saw many impassioned speeches both for and against the plans, and representatives of objectors including the Save Oasis Swindon campaign and Wilts & Berks Canal Trust.
The day after the rejection of the housing aspect of The Oasis plans, council leader Jim Robbins said: “The deal to reopen the Oasis for Swindon families to enjoy, is all about compromises and, unfortunately, the Planning Committee felt unable to support arguably the most important part of the scheme.
“This is because the homes around the Oasis are needed to fund the eye-watering costs of refurbishing the listed dome and swimming pool.
“We have hit a significant stumbling block with our partner, but as a pro-growth authority, it is one we will do all we can to overcome.
“Our priority to reopen a refurbished Oasis for current and future generations remains, but we can’t do this ourselves. We will be working closely with SevenCapital to find solutions to make this happen.”
For Save Oasis Swindon the biggest disappointment for them was the go ahead for the demolition of the sports hall.
Neil Robinson said “Very disappointing that the Hall demolition was given the go ahead, despite hundreds of strong objections, including from Sport England, as well as breaches of SBC's own Local Plan 2026 which promised an expansion of the Oasis, as well as the NPFF, which promotes safe and healthy lifestyles.
“We had warned the council for years that surrounding the Oasis with high density apartments would harm the listed building setting and that the houses should go on the Claire’s site instead. A good analogy was brought up in the planning meeting by one councillor - who would approve ten storey apartment blocks next to the listed Lydiard House?
“I think Seven Capital pushed for maximum density to try their luck. It was clear from the outset the housing was too dense, not suitable next to a grade II listed building, not enough parking, canal prevented from being restored, etc.
“The public had attended their public consultations but were ignored, and the applications were skewed by Seven Capital to get what they wanted.
“The main concerns were loss of canal and loss of hall. These were skirted over by Seven. I think Seven may have had a better chance of approval if they had included a hall instead, and offered a full Oasis refurb, rather than a partial one. Instead it became clear their main focus was housing, as that is their speciality.”
“We’ll see what happens next, but we wouldn't be surprised if SevenCapital now pull out. The land surrounding the Oasis is a no go for housing, they're left with the Claire’s site.
“We currently have a third ACV application in for the hall. Our reasoning for this was not to create a delay tactic, as some have wrongly stated.
“Each time we have applied, we have had a Seven Capital response back, and have been gaining more and more information we didn't know previously. For example, after the second rejection, we finally got the costings from Seven to restore and rebuild the hall.
“We had been asking for those for five years. Based upon this we were able to construct a more informed ACV application. We will know the outcome by 25 August.”
Along the way and in the aftermath of the planning decision the campaign group has faced a lot of social media criticism that it is in fact the campaign group themselves who are stopping the reopening of The Oasis through being against any plans to bring it forward.
This includes the campaign they led against the 2021 plans, the campaign they were a part of to get the dome listed, the campaign against the current plans, and the Asset of Community Value applications which some say are delaying tactics.
Neil said: “Most social media posts I have seen have been fully supportive of our mission to save the Oasis in full.
“For example, the housing rejection post had over 700 likes alone. We are not against all plans to bring it forward. We were supportive of the listed building consent application to retain the original pool layout, dome and pool features.
“I want the Oasis back open more than anyone, I learned to swim there in the 90s, and took my daughter there when she was one, and was heartbroken when it closed.
“She has now missed out on learning to swim at The Oasis like I did. It is pretty devastating.
“However, if a developer stands to make an enormous sum for housing, to restore/rebuild a hall is a relatively minor cost in comparison.
“Now that the Oasis leisure land is safe from housing, there is no reason now why the whole leisure centre cannot be retained and restored/rebuilt.
“We have always believed that the main reason to demolish the hall was to maximise the space available for apartments. Now the apartments are no more, the space is there to retain the hall.
“We have always been consistent in saving the whole Oasis, and have been open minded about a hall rebuild.
“However, it is important to fight for Swindon's facilities. We are a rapidly growing town. We used to have many leisure centres to be proud of. Now, not only do we have a water deficit, but an indoor sports hall deficit.
“The hall at the Oasis was Wiltshire's biggest indoor Sports Hall. Many neighbouring towns and cities like Reading and Wycombe have fantastic leisure centres with sports halls, why can't Swindon have the same?
“The priority with the council is housing rather than all round facilities like the Oasis has always been. The Oasis was never just about the pool, but the meeting and event space, the place to be and take your friends and family to watch things, play sport and more.
“The problem in Swindon at the minute, is Swindon Labour are desperate for something to show they have achieved. At the moment, not very much.
“That is why they wanted the Oasis pushed through. We have become frustrated with the current administration as they have failed to listen to the wishes of many residents who want the entire leisure centre saved, after all it is a famous site and cultural icon.
“Why should we lose all of it? Not only that, but there are allegations surfacing that the planning outcomes were influenced and predetermined by some councillors. We aren't the only campaign group angry with the current administration, and it is unfair to single us out. Look at Highworth Golf Course action group and Swindon Needs Speedway. They are witnessing similar problems and are not afraid to speak out about their anger.
“We have devoted hundreds of hours over many years meeting and speaking with SevenCapital and councillors, both online and in person, even at Seven Capital's London Offices. Even in our Asset of Community Value applications, we have said we would continue to work closely with Seven Capital and SBC.
“A hall is relatively cheap to build, no excuse for a full rebuild of the Oasis, even more so now given the housing has been refused and the space is safe from residential. Seven Capital should now look to build their tower blocks on the Claires site, and look to bring back the full Oasis, including surrounding leisure land, e.g. BMX track and reinstatement of the Skatepark, which was prematurely moved before anything was even approved!
“Perhaps if they propose a full Oasis, people may be more inclined to support housing on the Claires site in whatever form they propose.”
So what happens next?
Obviously, there are going to be a lot of questions asked and a lot of conversations had over the next few weeks and months as to what happens next.
The one thing we would like to see is that The Oasis stops being used as a political football by both sides - The Conservatives and The Labour Party. They need to work together to get the leisure centre reopened for the good of the town.
Both political parties have made mistakes. The Conservatives need to hold their hands up and stop putting the blame at Labour’s feet as for why this situation exists in the first place, and Labour should have stood their ground a bit more against such a high density and flawed housing development proposed by SevenCapital.
Why was the fourth agenda item outright refused and not deferred or given conditional permissions if certain criteria were met? There might be a simple answer to this but we put it to the council and have not been given the answer yet.
The Conservatives are now requesting a cross-party working group to find a solution. That is definitely the right direction of travel.
Save Oasis Swindon also need to take a long hard look at their own actions especially in their political rhetoric. The signs were there of their political leanings last year when they campaigned against Labour at the local elections. By being blatantly a Conservative-leaning organisation they not only alienate half of the town who currently support Labour but also make it harder for them to work with the Labour administration to find a solution.
Calling for political resignations and making personal attacks is not the way forward. A campaign group to get a leisure centre reopened should be apolitical and represent the whole town and not just those who support a certain political party.
This behaviour does no-one any good. Especially not the town.
At the moment SevenCapital as the leaseholders hold all the cards and are in the driving seat as to what happens next.
Save Oasis Swindon is calling for the lease to be handed back to the council by SevenCapital so that they can form a community trust but even if that did happen why would the current administration put the keys into the hands of an organisation that has set themselves against them in such a public manner?
Save Oasis Swindon needs to chill and start to work with the Labour administration and SevenCapital. If they do this and lobby in a constructive way it might lead to the best solution.
At the moment they have just launched a petition against the council calling for a public inquiry which will be about as useful as a chocolate teapot.
They might have lost the battle to save the sports hall, but the war isn’t lost yet and they should be working with all parties concerned to ensure that the end goal and the ‘name on the tin’ of their campaign group Save Oasis Swindon actually happens.
At the moment they seem to have lost sight of what their purpose is and are locked in an endless political battle but it’s definitely time that they learn the art of diplomacy and working with other parties to get things done.
The only way that the campaign group will fulfil their aim of a reopened Oasis is by working with people and not against. Pressuring each party to ensure it’s on the right track but in a more diplomatic way rather than going full-Rambo and burning bridges all over the place.
Whatever the rights or wrongs of the planning meeting last week, the result was not something for a campaign group to be celebrating as it actually casts doubt on whether the leisure complex will ever reopen. Definitely not something to be jubilant about.
The most likely scenario now is that SevenCapital will go back to the drawing board and hopefully come back with a revised planning application that answers some or all of the objections made by the planning committee. One thing we would like to see is that they answer the objections of the Canal Trust and secure that area for any future waterway.
Whatever happens it’s going to be about compromise. Save Oasis Swindon need to move on from their ‘Hall or Nothing’ stance and SevenCapital need to move away from their ‘current housing plans’ or nothing stance.
Let’s hope this might in time be a win for the town but we might be in for a long wait before we know what the next step is.
At the moment, though, if the leisure centre is ever reopened and if Save Oasis Swindon don’t change their divisive rhetoric it will be despite the campaign group and not because of it.
So once again, please Save Oasis Swindon, chill out and actually go about the work of saving The Oasis by working with and not against people. And please stop the political mud-slinging.
The Ink News Briefing
100 jobs to be created as new 40,000 sq ft defence industry drone factory to be based in Swindon - STARK, which develops and delivers unmanned weapon systems for NATO and key partners including Ukraine, will begin production outside of Germany for the first time and has chosen Swindon for its UK factory. Full Story here
Get your tickets and keep popular music festival going - Organisers of Swindon's much-loved My Dad’s Bigger Than Your Dad Festival say it is at a critical crossroads. With just eight days to go before the festival is scheduled to light up the Old Town Gardens with music, food, fun, and community spirit, it is now at risk of cancellation if ticket sales don’t pick up in the next few days. Full Story here
Exciting Old Town events in response to road closure - Friends of Old Town, the public face of the Old Town Business Association, have announced a bold new summer programme, 'The Old Town Gasworks Sunday Socials'. Full story here
A corner of poetry
Ink resident poet Deborah Raikesmay waxes lyrical about the dreaded return of the teens.
Teenagers Home for Summer — My Personal Apocalypse
The girls swoop in like minor celebrities,
Flicking their hair, declaring they’re “literally massive,”
While wearing shorts the size of a hatband.
They poke at a lettuce leaf for dinner and sigh, batting fake lashed eyes
Then spend three hours editing selfies to look even thinner.
Their hair? Constantly in a state of chemical emergency.
Last week it was bubblegum pink —
This week it’s “Cammo khaki” and, somehow, both outcomes are my fault.
When I suggest they consult my hairdresser,
I’m “crushing their creativity.”
When it goes wrong, apparently, I “never warned them what could happen.”
The boys roll in like rib thin gangsters,
Shouting nonsense about “alpha energy” and “grindset.”
They boast about gym success… but can’t lift a towel off the floor or slice bread, nicely.
They trash talk each other with fake bravado,
But shriek like toddlers when a wasp shows up.
Attracted to the toxic clouds of Lynx
They roast their mates to the edge of friendship,
All “Oi, weapon” and “Muppet!” — the language of teenage love.
Let anyone else say it, though — full WWE showdown.
Then, two minutes later, they’re sharing a packet of Wotsits,
Because apparently, boys work on some primal caveman code.
I suggested a 'lovely family walk'.
The girls collapsed in horror like I’d asked them to eat suet and wear cardigans.
The boys asked, dead seriously, if 'cows have Wi-Fi'.
Nature, it seems, is only okay through a screen —
And served with snacks and without any physical effort on their part
Other than chewing
The kitchen isn’t mine anymore.
It’s a camp out for other people’s darlings.
Teen girls crowd round the fridge, screeching about almond milk,
Teen boys raid the snack cupboard like snarling dogs
And every cup, plate, and teaspoon is officially missing in action ( under someone's bed)
They’re draining me — emotionally, financially, spiritually.
The girls need cash for “an iced latte and maybe a top,”
The boys want “just a tenner” then return with forty quids’ worth of junk.
I might install a contactless card reader by the front door,
And charge entry for every mate they drag home.
But sometimes, when the dust settles and they’re off their phones,
A girl will curl up next to me and actually… chat.
She won't mention my broken nail, boden frock from ten years ago or untanned legs.
A boy will chuck me a smile, say “Cheers, Mum,” and mean it.
Blowing me a kiss from the endless bounty of his fifteen years.
So I won’t choke them — yet — but I will rent them out.
They'll do anything for cash
Providing that it's legal
They can be there in a flash - so Have your people call my people!
cdeb25
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