Latest news with #OasisLeisureCentre
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Current condition of closed Oasis pool revealed as TikTokers 'explore'
Video footage from inside the dilapidated Oasis Leisure Centre has revealed how the swimming pool looks now, amid new hope for the site's revival. The Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon has been closed since November 2020, after Better shut the site during the Covid-19 pandemic and then later handed the keys back to leaseholder Seven Capital, claiming it was impossible to make enough profit. On Saturday, July 19, a group of urban explorers entered the empty leisure centre and began live streaming to hundreds on TikTok from the account which boasts 13,000 followers. Now a new video, shared by on TikTok, has given an inside tour of how the Oasis currently looks. It comes just days after Swindon Borough Council approved plans to rebuild the Oasis without a sports hall. TikTok footage shows inside the Oasis (Image: (Image: The decision now gives the faintest of hopes that the centre might be open at some point in 2026, 50 years since it was opened. However, the council's planning committee then went on to refuse permission for 700 flats on the site, which could be crucial to the funding of the leisure centre refurbishment. Urban explorer footage of the site shows a drained pool with some dirt and debris scattered across the ground. When asked how they entered the site, a spokesperson for the TikTok account said: "It took hours and was very sketchy." Recommended reading: Urban explorers live stream from inside Oasis pool as 'police descend' Council leader labels misconduct allegations against him as 'nonsense' Potential reopening of beloved Oasis Leisure Centre plunged into doubt Old water slides 'Storm', 'Great white' and 'Sidewinder' have faded in colour and graffiti is visible on the walls, suggesting these urban explorers aren't the first to have entered the site since it closed. Urban explorers have confirmed entry to the site was 'sketchy' (Image: Nostalgic comments left under the video state: "This was my childhood" and "I can hear the sounds and everything." Another added: "My childhood and my children's is there. Shame it's closed." For those who have spent years campaigning for the reopening of the leisure centre, the 'behind-the-scenes tour' was not welcomed. Taking to X, a spokesperson for the Save Oasis Swindon campaign group said: "Someone's live inside the Oasis. Presumably Seven Capital aren't bothering with security at the moment?" Urban exploring, which is defined as the exploration of manmade structures that are typically abandoned or inaccessible to the public, is not in itself a crime. It only becomes a criminal offence if damage is caused to property or items are taken. A Wiltshire Police spokesperson, previously commenting on urban exploring, said: "Our advice to these people would be to stay out of these structures because if they injure themselves, it could be hours or even days before help arrives. "If something does happen, it also puts the lives of those people in the emergency services at risk when they have to rescue these people as well."
Yahoo
07-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Latest on Oasis leisure centre plans as decision looms
As a decision day approaches on Seven Capitals' plans to rebuild the Oasis leisure centre without a sports hall, it appears Save Oasis Swindon's third bid to have the centre made an asset of community value will not delay the planning committee meeting. Swindon Borough Council has indicated that the two processes are separate after SOS said it expected the newest bid to mean a delay in the planning process. Advertisement The group has also responded to concerns that a delay to the planning committee meeting has little effect other than to delay any re-opening of the centre, shut since October 2020. It said: 'The delay would be minor and limited to a month or so, it would buy some additional time for further objections, but that is not necessarily why we are launching a third ACV attempt. 'The reason why we are trying for a third time. is because we seem to be unravelling more information we didn't know previously, with each application attempt. It's taken two ACV attempts so far to finally elicit the restoration or rebuild estimates from Seven Capital. We have been asking for this for nearly five years from them.' READ MORE: Solar panels could be set for roof of STEAM Museum Advertisement A borough council briefing of cabinet members, seen by the Local Democracy Reporter, quotes Seven Capital as saying it would cost £11m to restore the current hall, or between £5.9m and £11.4m to demolish and rebuild. The group disputes that and says Sports England's website says a hall comparable to the existing one would cost £4m. It added: 'Seven Capital claimed in our second rejection that it would not be realistic to expect a community interest group to raise up to £11m. However, the figure we have obtained is far smaller and more achievable. READ MORE: Second bid to make Oasis 'asset of community value' turned down Advertisement READ MORE: Campaign group's new Oasis bid could delay permission for rebuild 'Swindon has a proven record of successfully establishing community trusts, community management, grant applications, sponsorships, trust memberships and more. ' The group also says its desire to see the centre opened with hall intact is not preventing a swift refurbishment and re-opening of the centre, keeping it closed rather than open without a hall. Its spokesperson said: 'It's a tedious argument that we are trying to revive an old relic from 1976. However, let's remember that the people of Swindon love the Oasis in its current form. Advertisement 'The people of Swindon are the previous and future customers of the Oasis and know best, not a shareholder in London. It is actually testament to the Oasis, that it's been a major sporting and entertainment hub for Swindon for nearly 50 years, and that must continue.' READ MORE: Hundreds object to loss of sports hall in Oasis plans He added: 'It is not unreasonable, or old-fashioned to want a full leisure centre with pool and sports hall. Sports halls are not a relic of the past; many new leisure centres get built with sports halls. 'For a town the size of Swindon that's fast-growing, 240,000 people, we are asking for the bare minimum back at the Oasis, and that is the dry side hall and pool model. Advertisement 'Seven Capital has always pushed the non-viable line, but never has evidence been released of this.' Days before the council's planning committee meets to decide on the plans, the group said: 'We have always been open-minded to either a restoration or full rebuild of the Hall. The people of Swindon want the Oasis back how it was, even better. 'It is culturally an iconic and famous landmark in the town, even more so with the band reforming. We should not be forced to lose half of our iconic leisure centre to greed. 'Picture the community outrage when the bulldozers go steaming in to demolish half of the Oasis. Once it's gone, we will never get it back which is why it is paramount we ensure the current plans do not get approved. We need the restoration or rebuild of a hall at the Oasis, not a quick political win with a rebuilt half version.' The planning committee meets at 6pm on Tuesday, July 8.
Yahoo
05-07-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Leisure centre revival has planning officer backing
Plans to rebuild a derelict leisure centre – and construct 700 flats around it – have been recommended for approval at an upcoming council vote. Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon has been closed since 2020 after its landlord Seven Capital concluded it was "not viable" because of the pandemic. Swindon Borough councillors will vote on Seven Capital's new plans to transform the site – which would see its listed pool and dome retained – on 8 July. The proposals includes 707 flats, to be built in eight tower blocks around the leisure centre. Planning officers recommended the plans despite more than 300 members of the public objecting, mainly due to plans to demolish a sports hall without replacing it. More news stories for Wiltshire Listen to the latest news for Wiltshire Two industrial units could also be built on the cleared Clare's factory site across the road, which was once earmarked by Seven Capital for a large indoor snow centre, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service. Recommending the plans be approved, a council officer wrote in a report: "The consenting of the development would thus allow for the clear public benefit of assisting in bringing the much-loved Oasis swimming pool back into use and re-introducing an important and unique leisure and fitness offer to the town." The report added the homes were "much needed" and that "adverse impacts of the development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified benefit". On 30 June, campaigners lost a bid to turn the leisure centre into an asset of community value for a second time. It would have allowed a six-month pause to see if a community group could take it on and run it when the owner wanted to sell. Follow BBC Wiltshire on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630. Oasis Leisure Centre could reopen in 2026 Leisure centre will not be listed as community asset Swindon's six leisure centres secured for 15 years Local Democracy Reporting Service
BBC News
05-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Oasis Leisure Centre renovation wins planning officer backing
Plans to rebuild a derelict leisure centre – and construct 700 flats around it – have been recommended for approval at an upcoming council Leisure Centre in Swindon has been closed since 2020 after its landlord Seven Capital concluded it was "not viable" because of the Borough councillors will vote on Seven Capital's new plans to transform the site – which would see its listed pool and dome retained – on 8 July. The proposals includes 707 flats, to be built in eight tower blocks around the leisure officers recommended the plans despite more than 300 members of the public objecting, mainly due to plans to demolish a sports hall without replacing it. Two industrial units could also be built on the cleared Clare's factory site across the road, which was once earmarked by Seven Capital for a large indoor snow centre, according to the Local Democracy Reporting the plans be approved, a council officer wrote in a report: "The consenting of the development would thus allow for the clear public benefit of assisting in bringing the much-loved Oasis swimming pool back into use and re-introducing an important and unique leisure and fitness offer to the town."The report added the homes were "much needed" and that "adverse impacts of the development would not significantly and demonstrably outweigh the identified benefit".On 30 June, campaigners lost a bid to turn the leisure centre into an asset of community value for a second would have allowed a six-month pause to see if a community group could take it on and run it when the owner wanted to sell.
BBC News
30-06-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Closed Oasis leisure centre will not be Swindon community asset
A second bid to turn a closed leisure centre into an Asset of Community Value (ACV) has been say plans to rebuild the Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon - which shut in 2020 - without its sports hall "reduce the famous leisure centre heavily in size".Listing a building as an ACV allows a six month pause to see if a community group can take it on and run it when the owner wants to Kevin Small, Swindon Borough Council's cabinet member for finance, said the local authority knew its rejection of the bid would be "unpopular". But he said the council had been given "very clear, independent legal advice from specialists in this field" which suggested the building did not meet tests to be listed. The Wiltshire site is due to be redeveloped by leaseholders Seven Capital, who plan to restore the centre's Grade II listed dome and pool and build 700 an ACV does not prevent a building's sale, use for a different purpose or demolition. The latest ACV application by campaign group Save Oasis Swindon was for the whole site - after a first bid relating exclusively to the sports hall was rejected in group said it had "no major issues with the proposed apartments around the site", but it did have objections to reducing sports facilities."The Oasis Leisure Centre is a prime leisure centre in Swindon, built for the benefit of the community."We are determined to save the whole Oasis Leisure Centre as one complete unit for the people of Swindon," it Capital's plans will be discussed by the council's planning committee in July.
