Latest on Oasis leisure centre plans as decision looms
Swindon Borough Council has indicated that the two processes are separate after SOS said it expected the newest bid to mean a delay in the planning process.
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The group has also responded to concerns that a delay to the planning committee meeting has little effect other than to delay any re-opening of the centre, shut since October 2020.
It said: 'The delay would be minor and limited to a month or so, it would buy some additional time for further objections, but that is not necessarily why we are launching a third ACV attempt.
'The reason why we are trying for a third time. is because we seem to be unravelling more information we didn't know previously, with each application attempt. It's taken two ACV attempts so far to finally elicit the restoration or rebuild estimates from Seven Capital. We have been asking for this for nearly five years from them.'
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A borough council briefing of cabinet members, seen by the Local Democracy Reporter, quotes Seven Capital as saying it would cost £11m to restore the current hall, or between £5.9m and £11.4m to demolish and rebuild.
The group disputes that and says Sports England's website says a hall comparable to the existing one would cost £4m.
It added: 'Seven Capital claimed in our second rejection that it would not be realistic to expect a community interest group to raise up to £11m. However, the figure we have obtained is far smaller and more achievable.
READ MORE: Second bid to make Oasis 'asset of community value' turned down
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READ MORE: Campaign group's new Oasis bid could delay permission for rebuild
'Swindon has a proven record of successfully establishing community trusts, community management, grant applications, sponsorships, trust memberships and more. '
The group also says its desire to see the centre opened with hall intact is not preventing a swift refurbishment and re-opening of the centre, keeping it closed rather than open without a hall.
Its spokesperson said: 'It's a tedious argument that we are trying to revive an old relic from 1976. However, let's remember that the people of Swindon love the Oasis in its current form.
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'The people of Swindon are the previous and future customers of the Oasis and know best, not a shareholder in London. It is actually testament to the Oasis, that it's been a major sporting and entertainment hub for Swindon for nearly 50 years, and that must continue.'
READ MORE: Hundreds object to loss of sports hall in Oasis plans
He added: 'It is not unreasonable, or old-fashioned to want a full leisure centre with pool and sports hall. Sports halls are not a relic of the past; many new leisure centres get built with sports halls.
'For a town the size of Swindon that's fast-growing, 240,000 people, we are asking for the bare minimum back at the Oasis, and that is the dry side hall and pool model.
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'Seven Capital has always pushed the non-viable line, but never has evidence been released of this.'
Days before the council's planning committee meets to decide on the plans, the group said: 'We have always been open-minded to either a restoration or full rebuild of the Hall. The people of Swindon want the Oasis back how it was, even better.
'It is culturally an iconic and famous landmark in the town, even more so with the band reforming. We should not be forced to lose half of our iconic leisure centre to greed.
'Picture the community outrage when the bulldozers go steaming in to demolish half of the Oasis. Once it's gone, we will never get it back which is why it is paramount we ensure the current plans do not get approved. We need the restoration or rebuild of a hall at the Oasis, not a quick political win with a rebuilt half version.'
The planning committee meets at 6pm on Tuesday, July 8.
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