AN ABANDONED leisure centre, thought to be the “inspiration for Oasis’ band name”, has been left to rot for five years.
The Oasis Leisure Centre in Swindon, Wiltshire, now sits empty, covered in grime and overgrown with weeds.
New pictures have revealed the state of the venue that was listed on an Inspiral Carpets tour poster that Liam Gallagher saw in his bedroom.
Oasis adopted the band name shortly after Noel Gallagher joined in 1991, having previously been dubbed The Rain.
The water park, understood to have inspired the band’s new name, was closed down five years ago.
Discussions about the site’s future between the owner of the leisure centre – Seven Capital – and the local council continue.
Locals have since become frustrated with the lack of progress on the site’s development.
Campaigners argue the leisure centre is quickly decaying and remains completely unattended to.
A group dubbed Save Oasis Swindon has now shared images of the dilapidated site to social media.
The pictures show the state of the former leisure centre, with rotting water features and organic growths running rampant throughout the building.
The campaign group is demanding to know why nothing has been done to repair the rotting venue.
A spokesperson for the group said: “Why are Seven Capital not keeping a Grade II listed building in a good state of repair?
“And why are Swindon Borough Council doing nothing nearly six years on?”
The council said discussions between it and the owner of the site about what comes next for the venue are continuing.
In December, a draft agreement between Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital was shared with locals.
The document said the centre cannot be opened for operations until Seven Capital pays £18,000 for bus service improvement works.
According to the documents, the firm will also have to cough up £35,000 to improve the Western Flyer cycle route.
Seven Capital is also being asked to provide the landscaped open space on the site and promise to maintain it.
A month after the initial documents were shared, another document showed that official permission for the “partial demolition and construction of new building elements” of the closed-down leisure centre had been granted.
Shouts of “shame” rang out from members of the public as councillors approved plans to rebuild a leisure centre on the site but without a sports hall.
Multiple plans were submitted by landlord Seven Capital for the Oasis Leisure Centre.
While the plans to demolish the sports hall were approved, Swindon Borough Council’s planning committee refused permission to build 700 flats at the site.
Steve Handley from Seven Capital previously said that they had amended their plans after an extensive public consultation.
He said: “We can bring back to life the Oasis to benefit the community and Swindon.”
