The Save Oasis Swindon Campaign have discovered, in a small-scale poll, that 89 per cent of Swindon residents are in favour of retaining the famous original iconic domed roof structure of the Oasis.
“We surveyed a hundred people across the town. The responses showed strong support for retaining the dome. Our campaign has been crystal clear from the outset: that we wanted the pool and dome retained as is, for future generations to enjoy.
“The dome is a key identifiable landmark of Swindon. It is a unique piece of architecture. The dome itself came from the United States, and is modelled on the Astrodome, in Arizona, USA. Many large-scale leisure centres of this type have disappeared in recent years across the UK, including the Rhyl Sun Centre – designed by the same architect as the Oasis.”
A great deal of thought went into the design of the pool, the climate, the internal features and the dome itself. The level of detail extended to the type of plants – the planting scheme included actual banana plants. It’s 1976 opening presented a spectacular, simulated tropical world to Swindon’s swimmers. In 1977, the American Pool Association voted it the world’s best swimming pool complex.
A spokesman for the campaign added: “It is inconceivable that the dome, which only had new polycarbonate panels fitted in 2015, is beyond saving. Yet, here we are a mere six years later, being told that the dome is not energy efficient and leaking.
“The Council are quick to dismiss the dome, but I believe more research should go into an alternative solution for the current dome. Better materials could make the building energy-efficient again and help to reduce pool heating costs. We would like to see evidence of what efforts the council and Seven Capital have made to find alternative materials that would enable retention of the dome. We are lucky to have such an iconic piece of architecture.
Further, it’s our belief that the architectural and cultural significance of this structure is not lost on whoever submitted to Historic England, a listing application for the dome. We decided to back the listing application once we discovered, what appears to be, a hastily put together plan to demolish the iconic dome. We were promised a refurbishment of the existing centre, not a demolition of the dome.
As Swindon blogger and author, Angela Atkinson wrote: “The whole point of the Oasis is its very form: the dome! One is synonymous with the other. Any restoration that takes away the dome is NOT a restoration of the Oasis. And it’s dishonest to present it as such.
“We trust that the Department of Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) will approve the listing of the Oasis Leisure Centre as soon as possible, to protect one of the few remaining examples of an original Great British Leisure Centre.”
