Disgust as abandoned Oasis Leisure Centre targeted by fly-tippers

Bins around the car park are overflowing, rubbish litters the car park including a discarded bathtub and toilet.

There's also growing concern too many trees and bushes in the area are being removed.

Rubbish at the Oasis

Campaign group Save Oasis Swindon (SOS) said they were 'shocked' at the state after making recent visits. 

A spokesperson said they monitored the area along with the Keep Swindon Tidy group.

"The litter is increasing and a bath and toilet have been fly-tipped in the car park," they said.

"There is a significant amount of rubbish building up around the back of the Oasis in a lockup, as well as on the skatepark and football pitches land.

"Swindon Borough Council is doing what they’ve done since the Oasis closed – and that’s nothing. Instead, they persist in saying that the responsibility lies with Seven Capital.

"The fact remains that Seven Capital are the leaseholders. And as such, Swindon Borough Council should be enforcing the terms of the lease with them - including keeping the Oasis and its surrounding land maintained to an acceptable level.

"The car park and surrounding land is earmarked for housing, and it’s evident that’s what they’re concerned about."

The group claims the listed building should be more carefully looked after because of its significance.

"It shouldn't be down to volunteers to keep the Oasis tidied," the spokesman said.

"This is why privatising the Oasis was a bad idea. The Oasis is one of our most loved landmarks in Swindon, so let's give it the respect it deserves and work towards restoration and reopening."

Large sections of trees and bushes removed from Oasis site

Swindon Borough Council does own the land on which the centre stands but developer Seven Capital took a 99-year lease on it six years ago, making it responsible for the upkeep of the land.

Ward councillor Jim Grant and member of Keep Swindon Tidy Josie Lewis had previously raised the issue of tidiness at the site last September pointing out piles of rubbish, rats and overgrown paths to the paper. 

Seven Capital response to those concerns at the time was: "We are in the process of appointing a contractor to cut hedges, do a general tidy up and empty litter bins in a couple of weeks’ time.”

Plans to renovate the leisure centre which included replacing the domed roof were ended when a recent listing decision by Historic England gave it protected status. 

It is not yet known what SevenCapital's plans are for the area and the company has not responded to our request for comment.