As the future of the abandoned Oasis Leisure Centre still remains unclear almost two years after it closed, we look back on when urban explorers broke into the site to see what remained.

The sorry state of the building was revealed in YouTube footage shot by the small group a few weeks after its closure.

The lagoon pool, Domebusters slides and concert halls which have attracted millions of visitors to Swindon since 1976 lie abandoned and empty after the decision by GLL to shut the facility for good in November.

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In the hour-long video, posted on the Kirbz Vidz channel, one of the two men is heard saying the “door was open” before they enter the North Star site via the Domebusters plant room. This claim is refuted.

One of the pair, whose identity remains unknown, says: “There’s damp and mould in here, it’s only been closed a couple of weeks and it’s already falling down.”

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The pair were able to get through the shutters into the main pool and go on to focus their camera on number of health and safety signs and displays before exploring its inner workings and pumps – including controls for the famous wave machine and water cannon – and climbing the stairs to the top of the Domebusters slides.

The disused changing rooms, reception area, sports halls, squash courts and offices all feature later on – with some furniture and equipment still in place as the fate of the leisure centre remains in a state of limbo.

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A description for the video reads: “This is one place that brought a tear to my eye. Seeing it like this, I’m actually gutted we’re losing this site.

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“Like most people from Swindon, I spent most my childhood here, back in the days of having a Swindon card was the best times for me here.

“The building is such an amazing design, I really don’t see why the council have given up with this site in the first place.

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“I don’t think they truly realise what they’re losing out on. This place is what made Swindon. Everyone knew what the Oasis was.”

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Council leader David Renard condemned the pair for entering the site and said it could encourage others to do the same.

He said: “Frankly it’s breaking and entering onto private property and I don’t condone it. It’s distinctly unhelpful.

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“My understanding is that doors to the boiler room were broken down by the people who have claimed to have just walked through an open door. It is breaking and entering.

“We know from past experience across the country that empty buildings can attract people who want to do damage to a building, so that’s always a risk.”

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GLL partnership manager for Swindon Josh Roper said: “We were horrified to find that the Oasis Leisure Centre had been broken into last week.

“The intruders broke a lock and chain and damaged a roller door when entering.

“They also put themselves at risk while inside the unoccupied building that houses mechanical plant and machinery. Their behaviour was both totally irresponsible and illegal.”

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Wiltshire Police confirmed officers visited the site on January 5 after an alarm was triggered.

They searched the centre but couldn’t find anything suspicious.

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Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard: Reception area at the Swindon Oasis Leisure CentreReception area at the Swindon Oasis Leisure Centre

Those responsible for the Kirbz Vidz YouTube channel were approached for comment by the Adver.

In December 2021, GLL workers were seen removing equipment and resources out of the leisure centre, including gym bags and signage.

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The council handed the Oasis to Seven Capital on a 99-year lease and the landlord, in turn, asked GLL to run it under its trading name of Better.

But the latter says it was no longer viable and announced it would not be reopening once the second national lockdown ended. The move sparked outcry in the town and a number of groups are campaigning to save it from permanent closure.

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Coun Renard added he is working with Seven Capital to secure the long-term future of the site, with a council taskforce recently set up to tackle the issue.

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Since then Oasis campaigners were "shocked and disappointed" after they say they were told the beloved leisure centre may never reopen at the beginning of May.

It is claimed that current owners SevenCapital said in an email to the group that despite having spent "many hundreds of thousands of pounds thus far" they couldn't come up with a 'viable scheme' that complied with the listing requirements. 

Save Oasis Swindon say that SevenCapital went further to say that it was unable to say whether or not the Oasis would ever reopen.

You can watch the full video below