Saturday marks three years since the sound of people hurtling down the domebusters was heard at the site of the Oasis Leisure Centre. 

Since closing in 2020, the popular venue has been at the centre of a fierce public-led campaign to save it and has been the subject of a number of ups and downs when it comes to refurbishing and reopening it. 

During this time it has gained Grade II-listed status, has been the location of a back-and-forth battle between local environmental groups and leaseholders SevenCapital to keep the area clean, and has been the subject of a number of planning applications. 

Currently, the Labour-led Swindon Borough Council is on the verge of greenlighting a deal that will see property developers refurbish and reopen the Oasis at no cost to the Swindon taxpayer, in order to be able to buy the land off the council for £6 million and build houses. 

If this deal passes the council's Scrutiny Committee, it could see the Oasis reopened by 2026 at the earliest. 

Neil Michael Robinson has been at the heart of the three-year struggle to get to this point as the founder of the Save Oasis Swindon campaign. 

He has reflected on the journey so far and whether he is feeling hopeful about the future of a building he has fought so hard for. 

"November 18 marks the sad third anniversary of the shock Oasis Leisure Centre closure. It has been a long, draining three years for the Save Oasis Swindon (SOS) Campaign.

"Three years have passed without music concerts, the domebusters and the echoing roar of children enjoying the wave machine.

"Whilst we are desperate to see work start on the Oasis as soon as possible, questions are being continuously raised about the plans SevenCapital has for the Oasis and the deal it is making with Swindon Borough Council.

"It has been confirmed that the sports hall, which also doubled as a music venue, will not be part of any future plans for the Oasis, and SevenCapital Managing Director has recently also added in comments to Save Oasis Swindon that the wave machine will not be included either."

The proposed deal was greenlit at a Cabinet meeting on Wednesday and will now be put before a scrutiny committee on Monday. 

If passed, SevenCapital could submit a planning application for the refurbishment within the following year which will clarify exactly what a new Oasis could look like. 

But despite being extremely close to the one thing they've campaigned for in the last three years, Save Oasis Swindon is continuing to put pressure on those involved to make it as good as it can be. 

"From what we know of these plans so far, we are essentially getting a scaled-back Oasis," Neil said. 

"As a group we are keen to see the Oasis reopen, but we are also keen to ensure that as much of what made the place so loved and popular before it closed is retained for its reopening.

"The Scrutiny meeting is on Monday at Civic Offices at 6pm, we urge for people to come down and have their say before it is too late.

"We want this building to be reopened but we do not want it to be reopened as a shell of its former self."