The ruling Conservative group on Swindon Borough Council has announced its desire to have the recently listed Oasis Centre removed from the list.

They say listing makes it too hard to make the changes needed to get the centre open and viable again.

But how easy, or difficult, is it to actually get a building removed from the list, held by Historic England?

A spokesman for the heritage organisation said: “Though it is rare, it is possible for a building to be de-listed.

Any decision to de-list is made by the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture Media and Sport.”

The current Secretary of State is Chippenham's MP Michelle Donelan.

A guide produced by Historic England says: “The Secretary of State can only take into account a building’s architectural and historic interest when considering an application for de-listing.

“An application for de-listing may be made because new evidence is available about the lack of special architectural or historic interest of the building, or a material change of circumstances, for example fire damage.”

But it adds that evidence will have to be provided that a listed building is not of special interest: “De-listing is only recommended after careful consideration has been given to each case. The vast majority of buildings that are listed have been correctly identified as having special interest.”