South Swindon MP Sir Robert Buckland has issued a heartfelt plea to Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital, urging them to enhance their current deal and incorporate a wave machine into the plans for the revival of our cherished Oasis Leisure Centre.
The Oasis Leisure Centre, a staple of Swindon’s communal life, shuttered its doors three years ago, leaving a void that has been keenly felt by the local community. Sir Robert Buckland, deeply invested in the centre’s rejuvenation, has been a steadfast advocate for its reopening, working in tandem with the Save the Oasis Campaign Group and local residents to navigate a path forward.
Expressing his disappointment at the closure, Sir Robert highlighted his close collaboration with leaseholders, Seven Capital, and landowners Swindon Borough Council. Over the past months, he has consistently urged both parties to collaborate and devise a solution that would facilitate the Oasis Leisure Centre’s resurgence.
Sir Robert drew encouragement in March of this year when stakeholders, including Seven Capital and Swindon Borough Council, set the 50th anniversary of the Oasis Leisure Centre, on January 1st, 2026, as the target for its reopening. The recent announcement of a deal between the council and Seven Capital, which outlined plans for both the Oasis’s revival and housing development on the site, further fuelled optimism.
However, a closer examination of the deal at a recent council meeting revealed a significant omission—the absence of a wave machine. The Save the Oasis Campaign Group, instrumental in scrutinising the details, flagged this crucial oversight, prompting Sir Robert to voice his concerns.
The wave machine, an integral element of the leisure centre’s allure, holds sentimental value for countless Swindonians, including Sir Robert himself, who fondly recalls enjoying it with his children. Recognising its pivotal role in attracting visitors and ensuring the Oasis’s financial viability, Sir Robert echoed the sentiments of North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson, who underscored that the absence of a wave machine would substantially diminish the Oasis’s appeal.
Approaching the third anniversary of the Oasis closure, Sir Robert Buckland calls upon Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital to reassess the current deal and include a wave machine. He emphasizes that while progress has been made, there is a collective responsibility to refine the plan further, ensuring that the Oasis not only reopens but remains financially sustainable for the long haul.
“The wave machine was a huge part of the leisure centre’s attraction, and I share North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson’s view that without a wave machine, the Oasis would have a significantly reduced appeal, which would reduce the number of paying customers. We need the Oasis not only to reopen, but to remain financially viable to secure its future” Said Robert.
“As we approach the third anniversary of the Oasis closure, I would like to urge both Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital to go back and reconsider this deal and add a wave machine. We have come this far, and we have a plan, but now is the time to work on that plan and improve upon it, so that the people of Swindon and beyond can enjoy our beloved Oasis once again.”
As Swindonians reflect on the Oasis’s closure, Sir Robert’s impassioned plea resonates—a call to infuse the revival plan with the spirit of the Oasis, including the beloved wave machine that defined its unique charm.
