SWINDON councillors reacted to the shock news of the Oasis Leisure Centre closing permanently.

Borough council leader Coun David Renard said: "This is really disappointing news for the staff and my thoughts are with them and their families at this difficult time.

"I am personally very sad GLL has taken the decision to surrender its lease with Seven Capital on the Oasis, but Covid-19 has had a devastating impact on leisure providers and the leisure industry as a whole.

“We are continuing to work with Seven Capital, as landlord of the Oasis, and GLL, who continue to operate six leisure centres on behalf of the council.”

Coun Stan Pajak added: "This is devastating news for its users from parents, young people, residents of all ages and to the many sports clubs.

"This represents a leisure crisis for Swindon which the Council must address amid a black hole in our finances,"

Leader of the Labour group Coun Jim Grant said: "This is desperately disappointing news for thee town. Oasis was a major regional attraction and footfall into the town centre will drop as a result.

"This closure is a consequence of the borough council privatising its leisure facilities.

"GLL are using Covid-19 as an excuse to close Oasis, but if it was still in the borough council's hands, we could have used some of the money from government to keep it open."