The famous Oasis dome is prominent in the south part of the ward but arguments about how the leisure centre – leased by Swindon Borough Council to Seven Capital – came to be closed, how soon it can be reopened or whether it is better to rebuild a new centre will continue all the way up to polling day. 

These arguments will be of interest to voters across the entire borough, but particularly so to those in this ward, which stretches from the railway line which bisects the town out to the suburb of Haydon Wick. 

Also concerning voters in Rodbourne Cheney will be the progress, or otherwise, of the £270m snow centre planned for a cleared site across the road from the Oasis. 

When Seven Capital was given permission to build what it said would be a regional attraction, residents were concerned about the impact of traffic to the site, perhaps fearful of suffering the sort of congestion their neighbours in Mannington and Western ward see around the Designer Outlet. 

Until the later decades of last century Rodbourne Cheney would have represented the edges of Swindon before the expansion of housing in North Swindon, and it still has a mixed character – north of Great Western Way which cuts off the North Star business area from the rest of the ward there’s an extensive area of packed terraced streets and semi-detached properties. 

There is also the Cheney Manor Industrial Estate and the large green expanse of Moredon Playing Fields and the open space and woodland surrounding the route of the River Ray, before more suburban housing in Moredon. 

Education will be a priority – Swindon College and New College are now co-located in the  same building in North Star and that will be where the Institute of Technology opens its doors later this year. 

At the other end of the ward Nova Hreod Academy, built to serve the residents of Moredon and surrounding areas is improving and was given a Good rating by Ofsted at its last inspection in 2017. 

Since the ward was created when boundaries were redrawn in 2012 it has been a solidly Labour stronghold – but the seat being contested this year has been vacant since late 2019 when long-serving councillor Des Moffatt died. 

With the seat due to be contested last year it was decided not to have a by-election to elect a member for just a few months – and then last year’s elections were postponed for a year. 

In the two elections since the new boundary Coun Moffatt did not fail to gain more than 60 per cent of the vote, testament to his personal popularity. 
If the Labour group have any hope of overturning a Tory majority it must win this seat. 

Meet the candidates

Pam Adams (Labour)

"I have been selected as Labour’s candidate for Rodbourne Cheney, to replace the late and much-loved Des Moffatt.

"I am a retired teacher and have lived in Swindon for over 40 years. I am married with two sons and two grandsons, who live and work in Swindon.

"I am an experienced community champion, with a good knowledge of local government, having been a parish councillor for a number of years.

"I’m already working with Labour’s Rodbourne Cheney team, helping to successfully achieve funding for a new youth hub in Moredon, campaigning to save the Oasis, our iconic Swindon leisure centre, which is situated in the ward.

"As well as putting pressure on the council and Environment Agency to eradicate the 'Rodbourne smell', I’ve also been working with residents to introduce 20mph zones in the Abbey View estate and through Rodbourne Green."
 
Rod Hebden (Green)

"I am a local business owner, bringing up my children in Rodbourne Cheney.

"Having worked for national organisations based in Swindon, I set up my own business in 2017 which works with local and national charities, heritage organisations, and businesses who want to do more for the Swindon community.

"I’m known for his passion for the town, and last year launched the Festival of Tomorrow to celebrate our engineering heritage and share the best of UK science and technology with the people of Swindon.

"Science is clear that we need to take far greater, and faster, action to protect our world than our government and council are doing. Our children are depending on it. That is why I am proud to stand for the Green Party, to help the people of Swindon create the future we want for our families and community."
 
Geoffrey King (Lib Dem)

"Born in Swindon, I returned with my wife 10 years ago to look after my mother. Rediscovering Swindon, I was shocked at the severe failings – especially in hard-hit Rodbourne and other central areas where there are many needs – all at the hands of successive Tory and Labour-led councils.  

"They mis-managed finances and spent foolishly on vanity projects which produced little benefit.  

"Take the Oasis – a pioneering town facility when it opened, on their watch it’s become run down, instead of developing it they leased it off in a dubious deal.  

"Now it may never reopen.  

"Take the Bruce St Bridges traffic scheme – ridiculously "expensive, and it doesn’t even work! 

"These are but a few examples of systemic failure.  

"So, vote Lib Dem on May 6 – for integrity, policies and projects that work for Rodbourne. 

"PS Guess who aren’t supporting our plan to reopen the Oasis..."
 
Sudha Nukana (Conservative)
"My family and I are proud to call Rodbourne Cheney our home.  I feel strongly that the ward must be well represented on Swindon council.  Residents are rightly angry that none of the Labour councillors, or Labour candidate live in our community – they take our area for granted. 

"I have a long-standing track record of action in our community I have supported community litter picks, tree planting and speaking to residents.  Since the beginning of the Covid pandemic I have helped deliver meals and prescriptions to residents.

"I am passionate about tackling litter, graffiti, and anti-social behaviour to make our area safe and tidy. I ensure our local parks and green spaces are enhanced, and I will oppose any inappropriate development on these spaces to safeguard land for nature, recreation, and sport.

"If elected no-one will work harder than me for our community – I really will make a positive difference."
 
Alexandra Pearce (Independent)

"I have lived in Swindon all my life and was born and grew up in Rodbourne Cheney. I am self-employed, am a student of history and have never been interested in becoming personally involved in politics before. 

"I am standing because someone needs to speak up for those whose lives and livelihoods have been destroyed by lockdowns. Someone needs to ask difficult questions; to risk being vilified for questioning whether such restrictions were justified.  

"I believe any form of health or vaccine passport is fundamentally wrong, and would both usher in a two-tier society, and be a serious threat to privacy, in a society where personal data is fast becoming currency.  

"I believe any medical intervention should be a matter of choice. 

"I would defend anyone's right to have the vaccine, however I would also defend anyone's right to refuse without sanction or coercion. That is and must remain a fundamental right."