THE firm responsible for Swindon’s Oasis centre has been accused of ‘clear neglect’ over the state of the land around the abandoned landmark.

Environmental campaigners and parish councillors have urged developer SevenCapital to tackle fly-tipping and an open manhole at the North Star site.

The iconic leisure centre closed in the autumn of last year and is now scarred by graffiti and litter, despite the presence of a security patrol.

The Plastic-Free Swindon group has criticised the firm in a series of blog posts, calling for it to hand back its lease to Swindon Council.

The terms of that lease state that it should keep landscaped areas ‘reasonably well-tended.’

Bins around the 1970s centre are overflowing, and surrounded by plastic bottles and other litter, while an open manhole with a drop of around six foot has also been spotted.

The group said: “Given clear neglect, contravention of the terms of the lease and disregard for the local community, we have asked that SevenCapital forfeit the lease.”

It has also called on local people to take greater responsibility, saying: “We seem to feel that we are not responsible if we act in large numbers. No, each of our actions is important. If we can collectively create a problem, we can collectively work to solve it.”

The blog praises the acts of public-spirited people who have attached their own bin bags to play equipment at the site.

Central Swindon North Parish Council says it also increasingly concerned at the appearance of the site.

Parish clerk Andy Reeves said: “The parish council understands the frustration created by the neglect of the land.

“SevenCapital don’t appear to be taking any responsibility for the deterioration of the land and building.

“It has deteriorated significantly in the last nine months and it’s becoming increasingly challenging.”

The concern is shared by local Labour councillor Jim Grant, who recently urged SevenCapital to allow the Oasis’s car park to be brought back into use by the public.

“SevenCapital need to ensure that the land around the Oasis is maintained, he said.

“Otherwise it leads to all sorts of other problems such as anti-social behaviour, and it just looks unsightly.

“The fact that I haven’t heard back yet from SevenCapital on the parking issue leads me to wonder how committed they are to this site.

“A cynical person might think that they were happy to leave the site to go to rack and ruin.”

The council said the state of the land around the Oasis was a matter for SevenCapital.

Asked if it believed the firm was sticking to the terms of its lease, it said: “We are working with SevenCapital on the opportunity to refurbish and improve the Oasis and SevenCapital are aware of their lease obligations.”

Asked if it had had any correspondence with SevenCapital on the issue of litter around the site, it replied: “We are aware that SevenCapital has responded on the issue of rubbish on the site.”

Seven Capital was approached for comment but did not respond before the Adver’s print deadline.