OAKFIELD campus faces an uncertain future as Swindon Council and the University of Bath remain at stalemate over the site.

The building – which was abandoned when the University of Bath pulled out of Swindon in August – could be a valuable community asset, according to local residents and politicians.

Among the suggestions for the site are a housing development, a leisure facility, an Islamic faith school, a storage site for Honda cars and a stationery superstore.

But until the council and the university can break the deadlock, the site remains a ghost town.

Coun Phil Young, lead member for culture, regeneration and economic development, said: “At the moment we are still talking to the University of Bath. They have a long-term lease on the site, which still has a few years left.

“In the current climate we’re not just going to take the site back off them so all we can do is wait and see.”

Fay Howard, Parks councillor and deputy Labour leader, said: “It’s a real shame that things have ground to a halt – it was always a great place for conferences and events.

“I was hoping that something would be done with it but I’ve heard nothing. I know that a lot of groups would love to get their hands on it – it’s a great building.”

Walcot councillor Mavis Childs (Con) said: “My concern is demographic change – Walcot will eventually have a lot of young children and there will only be Churchfields and Dorcan so it would be nice to keep it as a school. Really, I would like to see houses on the site but at the moment there’s not much chance of that.”

Local resident, Lisa Wright, 29, thought the site would be perfect for an Islamic faith school. She said: “It’s something that would be good for Swindon and perfect for the site.”

But Peter Locke said: “Knock it down and let Honda stick all the cars they can’t sell on there.

“It would be closer for them than Wroughton and you don’t need to worry about spoiling a beauty spot. Actually I think it should be kept for education – it was a real shame the computer museum had to move out.”

The building opened as Park Grammar School in 1960. It became Park Senior High School from 1965 until 1983, then when the council scrapped the 11-plus exam it changed its name to Oakfield School. By the time the school closed in 2000, to make way for the campus, it had just 100 students, out of a 719 capacity.