NEW plans for the future of the Oasis Leisure Centre are expected "imminently". 

That's according to the leader of Swindon Borough Council David Renard. 

Landlord SevenCapital's to redevelop the site were pushed back when Historic England took the decision to list the iconic 1970s dome and earthen bank - awarding it Grade-II listed status. 

Coun Renard was talking about the saga at the council's scrutiny committee meeting on Monday night. 

The committee was discussing decisions made by the council's cabinet last week, as well as approving cabinet's response to - and endorsement of - the actions recommended by the Oasis Task Group and agreed at the scrutiny committee meeting in September last year.

It was decided that the Conservative cabinet will continue to work with SevenCapital to investigate the options for the reopening of the Oasis, and that cabinet should take steps to ensure that the scheme brought forward is in line with public opinion on the future of the centre, and an extensive consultation programme is recommended to ensure public support for the new plans, and that the Oasis remains an affordable and accessible local resource.

Both Cabinet and SevenCapital must also seek to set out a "comprehensive
engagement programme given that there is a huge amount of public concern
over the future of the site, as demonstrated by the scale of public participation
in the task group meetings".

The leaders of the two parties on the council clashed at Monday night's meeting - with Labour leader Jim Grant criticising the ruling group over what he says was "a lack of a plan" for the future of the site. 

Coun Renard disputed thi  and said the group has been working with all partners to secure the best proposal, but saidit is ultimately the responsibility of Seven Capital to bring forward plans.

Coun Renard added that he expects a new planning application to be submitted by SevenCapital "imminently", but he could not confirm if he thought this would be before or after the local elections in Swindon on May 5. 

Coun Grant argued that the plans were not those of the Conservative party, but the work of separate partners, such as SevenCapital. 

The recommendations of the Oasis Task Group were approved, but there are no further details about what any future plans may look like. 

The Oasis has been closed since former operator GLL declared it no longer viable at the end of the second lockdown in November 2020.