A GROUP campaigning to get Swindon's Oasis Leisure Centre reopened has reacted to the approval of plans to refurbish its iconic dome.

Neil Robinson, who helped set up Save Oasis Swindon shortly after the North Star facility closed in November 2020 and pushed for the building to be listed as a historic asset, said he was delighted the application was approved.

He also said work must start this year to avoid "another snow dome fiasco".

The swimming pool and dome received Grade II listed status in December 2021.

On Thursday, Swindon Borough Council greenlit an application from the building's owners SevenCapital to restore and refurbish its curved roof.

Neil said: "As a campaign, we are delighted that the planning application has been approved.

"This is what we have been campaigning hard for since the Oasis was listed.

"From the moment the listing was announced, there has been constant resistance to that decision from both Conservative councillors and SevenCapital.

"All of this has wasted time and that, in turn, has increased costs as it allowed damage to the Oasis to continue.

"Thus, it’s good to see this application approved."

There are still a couple of points that the SOS group would like more details on.

Neil added: "We are still yet to examine the housing plan from SevenCapital that will fund the plans.

"We also have not been given timescales of when work may start, and our concerns over the state of - and the security around - the site continue.

"There are also separate planning applications that will come for the pool, sports Hall and housing. We don't yet know what the rest of the Oasis will look like."

The group feels that the site should not be left to deteriorate further, as break-ins and fly-tipping have been seen inside and around the 1970s structure in recent months.

It is hoped that the redevelopment of the Oasis will not suffer the same much-delayed fate as the approved plans to build a £270m entertainment complex nearby which is set to feature indoor ski slopes, an IMAX cinema, a bowling alley, and a trampoline park.

Save Oasis Swindon's statement continued: "The campaign wants work on the Oasis to begin this year. We do not want things to be dragged out any longer.

"It's already been over two years since it closed. The Oasis restoration will have to come first before any houses are built.

"We don't want another Snow Dome fiasco. We need timescales from Seven Capital and Swindon Borough Council about when work will commence."