jasdooit

• Receive your news directly by 7am – subscribe to our new Morning Mail newsletter at no cost.

The entertainment complex that inspired the band name Oasis has remained unused for five years, with sorrowful images showing its deteriorating condition.

The Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon, Wiltshire, lies abandoned, encrusted with dirt and overgrown with weeds.

New images show the deteriorating condition of the family attraction, which appeared on an Inspiral Carpets tour poster.Liam Gallagher saw in his bedroom.

Oasis took on the name just prior toNoel Gallagherjoined in 1991, after having been known as The Rain.

The center has remained empty since October 2020, when its owner SevenCapital determined it was ‘not feasible’ due to the pandemic.

Ongoing talks between SevenCapital and the local council about the site’s future have led to growing local dissatisfaction.

Activists claim the formerly busy location is quickly deteriorating as it remains unused.

A group called Group Save Oasis Swindon has recently shared pictures of the abandoned venue.

The images show dark, damp water and thick, wild vegetation.

Why hasn’t anything been done to prevent the site from deteriorating, the group stated: ‘Why aren’t SevenCapital maintaining a grade II listed building in good condition?’

And what is Swindon Borough Council waiting for, almost six years later?

The council mentioned that talks between them and SevenCapital regarding the site’s future are ongoing.

In December, a preliminary agreement between Swindon Borough Council and SevenCapital was posted on the internet.

The document states that the center cannot reopen until SevenCapital contributes £18,000 for enhancements to the bus service.

The documents reveal that the company must also pay £35,000 to enhance the Western Flyer cycling path and establish and manage the landscaped public area at the location.

One month following the initial documents being published, another document revealed that official approval had been given for the ‘partial demolition and construction of new building components’ at the closed recreational facility.

Cries of ‘shame’ were heard from members of the public as council members gave their approval to the project to construct a leisure center on the site, excluding the sports hall.

Several proposals were presented by SevenCapital for the Oasis Leisure Centre.

Although the plans to tear down the sports hall were given the go-ahead, Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee denied approval for constructing 700 apartments on the location.

Steve Handley of SevenCapital mentioned earlier that they had modified their plans following a thorough public consultation.

He stated: “We can make the Oasis a reality to serve the community and Swindon.”

The head of Swindon Borough Council, councillor Jim Robbins, stated that the renovation of the location continues to be a ‘top priority’.

Read more