Swindon SBC Councillors and Planning officers have met Wednesday evening (25th September 2024) to see plans ahead of being officially submitted for planning.
The meeting that was conducted on Teams remotely saw the plans presented by architect Ian Harding on behalf of Seven Capital. The plans show the Oasis is set to lose the multipurpose sports hall/music venue, which is still the largest sports hall in Wiltshire which has been passionately fought for by campaign group Save Oasis Swindon who believe if the sports hall is torn down, not only will it lose half the leisure centres heritage and link to a history of over 40yrs of live music that saw internationally known iconic bands, including indie band, Inspiral Carpets who performed at the Oasis in 1991.
At the time an unknown Noel Gallagher who was a roadie for the band which would go on to join his brother to form the most iconic Brit Pop band of the 90s ‘Oasis’ inspired by the leisure centre Oasis during his time as a roadie for Inspiral Carpets. With Oasis announcing the long awaited reunion tour for 2025 the Save Oasis campaign has gone into overdrive to save the Oasis back to its former Morning Glory.
As well as the loss of the sports hall, the plans show the carpark will be reduced in size by over 200 parking places, leaving just 250 parking spaces for the centre, something Labour led SBC said would not be effected by the development.
Inside the centre, the now Heritage Status dome will be brought back to life with the lagoon pool and Dome Busters and dryside there will be a small gym, cafe as well as adding a new floor above the cafe for a bowling alley.
Surrounding the Oasis, the planned residential estate resembles something that can only be described as a Cold War Soviet era estate with nine large high-rise block of flats, each likely to be 6 to 8 stories tall.
As well as the surrounding planned blocks of flats will be two large Amazon/B&Q size warehouses. The leaked plans of which we have seen a 3D plan of the proposed site around the Oasis was described jokingly to us by our contact in the council by saying: “Well, at least the view of the Slavic blocks of flats will be softened by the large warehouses”
Our contact went on to say: “Guess it will blend in with that bloody ugly tower at North Star Campus next door”.
Speaking to the founder of Save Oasis Swindon about the proposal, Neil Robinson said: “The council are signing off the death warrant on the Oasis getting rid of the sports hall! But it’s not over yet, we will fight to the very end to save the Oasis for the long term future.
Neil went on to say: “We still have time, the planning stage gives the people of Swindon the chance to show their objections. I’m sure Sport England will object also”.
Neil is calling on the whole of Swindon to get behind the campaign to save the Oasis sports hall which industry experts have said if demolished will seal the fate of the iconic leisure centre to a short lived rebirth and will once again close its doors if the centre has no sports hall to bring in the needed finances to keep the Oasis financially viable.
As well as submitting objections to the prosed plans that will be made public very soon, the people of Swindon can also sign the Save Oasis Swindon petition, click HERE. as well as following the campaign groups Facebook page, click HERE.
Another member of the Save Oasis Swindon who wished not to be named said: “They said the car park would not be reduced! Liars! These proposed flats will be detrimental to the Oasis listed status.
He went on to say: “Big Blocks of flats have been proven to be high crime magnets, just look at these high-rise estates in London and other cities!”.
The Plans are likely to be put on to the councils public planning portal in the coming days to look at and make objections to
To check on the portal, just click the link HERE. It’s expected the plans will hit the public portal in the coming days.
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