Olympic stadium could form part of Oasis redevelopment - Swindon Advertiser

Olympic stadium could form part of Oasis redevelopment

8:10am Saturday 5th May 2012 in News By David Wiles

PART of the 2012 Olympic basketball arena could come to Swindon to help build a concert venue and sports hall at the redeveloped Oasis Leisure Centre.

Moirai Capital Investments, the developer leading the £65m overhaul, has registered an interest in securing part of the 12,000-capacity stadium, which will be dismantled after the Games.

Under the draft plans and depending of how much, if any, of the building comes to Swindon, a section could create a 5,000 to 7,000-seater multi-use arena which could be used for concerts, as well as a sports hall.

Barr Construction, the Scottish firm which built the stadium at London's Olympic Park, said in January that its "preferred" option would be to re-use the whole stadium at the 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, but if not, there were others interested in using it.

The Adver understands the deadline for Brazil to confirm the deal recently elapsed, meaning it no longer has first refusal.

The paper also understands there at are least four organisations, including Moirai, which have expressed an interest.

A decision is expected by August, but it is still early days and nothing is certain.

The Adver reported last week that Swindon Council also hopes to get about £1m worth of plant equipment, used in a temporary Olympic training pool, to build a 50m pool at the Link Centre.

Commenting on the basketball stadium, Coun Keith Williams, Swindon Council's cabinet member for leisure, said: "It's a great opportunity. It really shows that with regards to the Olympic legacy, Swindon is looking to capitalise on that as much as possible.

"And where people have been unable to get tickets, generations of Swindonians will be able to benefit from a once-in-a-lifetime Olympic Games."

Coun Williams said Moirai hoped to get a length of the building, plus an end wall, which would be used to build the new facility on the adjoining former Clares factory site.

The Adver understands that, providing the developer gets a sufficient section, there would be a separate arena and the sports hall, but it might end up as one flexible space. The Adver also understands that the council and Moirai plan to build the arena, regardless of whether parts come from the Olympics.

The arena would replace the Oasis sports hall as Swindon's main concert venue, while the new sports hall could be used for sports such as basketball, squash and badminton.

Coun Williams said: "It's fitting that gap because we do have smaller venues, and we can get 3,000 capacity at the moment, but this would bring things to a whole new level.

"We will have a greater range of acts, attract the larger acts that wouldn't normally perform in somewhere like the Oasis.

"The acoustics will be better with this facility, so I think it's definitely moving in the right direction and will be a great benefit for the people of Swindon."

The Oasis is set to transfer to Moirai on June 1, with the start of a 12-month refurbishment. Work to build further leisure facilities, including an indoor ski slope would take place in later phases.

Comments(23)

Robfm says...
8:19am Sat 5 May 12

So nothings changed, our Councillors are intent on bankrupting Swindon. Robfm

matt71 says...
10:04am Sat 5 May 12

Rob this is exactly the kind of project that the council should be spending our money on I would gladly pay a bit more council tax to fund it.people moan that Swindon has nothing to do then moan about the cost when the council tries to improve it.i also believe this is privately funded so no cost to tax payers. matt71

sn5 says...
10:30am Sat 5 May 12

it's a good idea to look at this as a possibility - no doubt rfm would slam the council if they were to refurbish the oasis or the link and not look at this as a possibility sn5

SockPuppet says...
10:33am Sat 5 May 12

Nice plans, but a prime example of the rest of the country getting the scraps of the Olympics. Britain is far too Londoncentric. SockPuppet

Robfm says...
10:52am Sat 5 May 12

The Council has already given the land over (not said what lease payment is), and stated they will pay £1.2 million towards a 50 metre pool. So yes it is rate payers money. I am all in favour of commercially sourced and paid for projects like this. I fear however this will come with lots of subsides we can't afford. Take a look at the Union Square development Muse are building the entire first phase and it's costing them nothing, and making £14 million into the bargain. As for the major events have there been one where the community in general has benefited in the long term. There was a programme 2 weeks ago on Barcelona, once great stadia are now ruins, as in Greece. Robfm

Robfm says...
10:54am Sat 5 May 12

Off thread, who else thinks the photo of the men the Police would like to speak to look very much like the Military. Robfm

I Too says...
8:30pm Sat 5 May 12

Oh so it's fine for YOU to go off thread then. One set of rulea for you and a different set for everyone else I suppose. I Too

I Too says...
9:12pm Sat 5 May 12

On topic, I hope this latest "promise" doesn't effect the previous "promise" of a ski dome. They will certainly need both the Oasis and Clares sites for that I don't think the pool and sports hall alone would cover it www.flickr.com/photo s/73970391@N03/67901 56266/in/set-7215762 8887121529/ The additional area across the road would be essential www.flickr.com/photo s/73970391@N03/70394 06341/in/set-7215762 8887121529/ I Too

I Too says...
9:19pm Sat 5 May 12

Course a ski dome would be something different for Swindon, but having visited the one at Milton Keynes..... This is what I'd be spending my time doing http://m.flickr.com/ #/photos/73970391@N0 3/6893304934/in/set- 72157629184123578/ I Too

itsamess says...
9:31pm Sat 5 May 12

Bob You are just upset that the council have not personally given you all the details-and that you cannot work out how much benefit the whole project will benefit swindon. As you are not a ratepayer by virtue of being a simple employee--and clearly anti everything that could improve this town--why dont you go somewhere else to aggravate them. Clearly you have not grasped the fact that the Oasis and the rest of the project is not being funded by the ratepayers. They will get an income and of course attract visitors to our town with an income as well. As the company has applied for equipment that could help build more facilities--that is good for us--a better venue and extra sports facility. The pool is an entirely different matter and has great potential--just one more thing to raise our profile. itsamess

Robfm says...
7:29am Sun 6 May 12

Wow the fountain of all knowledge has done it again. So I am not a rate payer. Well best I stop paying SBC then. I can say that an internationally renowned Fantasist, sorry, Nuclear Scientist, says so, and he's never wrong.

You pillock, as well as the business paying non-domestic rates, we also pay domestic rates.

Once again you show your knowledge is simply googled, and clearly not very well.

As for the project try reading what I wrote, I am all in favour of this. I have visited the MK Xscape many times over the years, when there on BII business. It's directly opposite where I use to stay.

The use of public funds, and the benefits to the public should be public knowledge or are you now going back on numerous other posts you've made saying that, just to disagree again.

Wow the fountain of all knowledge has done it again. So I am not a rate payer. Well best I stop paying SBC then. I can say that an internationally renowned Fantasist, sorry, Nuclear Scientist, says so, and he's never wrong. You pillock, as well as the business paying non-domestic rates, we also pay domestic rates. Once again you show your knowledge is simply googled, and clearly not very well. As for the project try reading what I wrote, I am all in favour of this. I have visited the MK Xscape many times over the years, when there on BII business. It's directly opposite where I use to stay. The use of public funds, and the benefits to the public should be public knowledge or are you now going back on numerous other posts you've made saying that, just to disagree again. Robfm

itsamess says...
8:37am Sun 6 May 12

Robfm says... 7:29am Sun 6 May 12 "You pillock, as well as the business paying non-domestic rates, we also pay domestic rates." Bob--but you claim you are just an employee--and unless the rules have changed--employees are not responsible for the rates. As for the project at the Oasis-the Council have given out the information as to what and when the already planned units are going ahead and the huge investment by Moirai-likewise the council has made plans for other projects tying in with the project. The election result will help us in the next few years as we can expect more funding to stave off the loss of more seats in 2 years. itsamess

Robfm says...
10:40am Sun 6 May 12

Everyone who lives in a domestic premises is liable to domestic rates (unless on benfits or one of the other exemptions), it's nothing to do with the business. As husband and wife we are both vicariously liable for the rates. So much for your legal knowledge. SBC don't have funds, that is rate/taxpayers money. Whatever they spend comes from us in some way or other. Robfm

Bored of Robfm says...
11:11am Sun 6 May 12

P1ss off and do some work then so you can pay for our olympic stadium Bored of Robfm

moonraker says...
12:44pm Sun 6 May 12

Robfm - can you provide a definition for the word vicariously. I've checked in the internet dictionaries and still am unable to understand your use of the word in your sentence. Thank you. And why do you have to resort to abuse of other posters? moonraker

itsamess says...
2:04pm Sun 6 May 12

Bob You have not explained how as an employee you can be held liable be held responsible for business rates. "SBC don't have funds, that is rate/taxpayers money. Whatever they spend comes from us in some way or other." That does not apply to the Oasis project as Moirai are funding the project. Thus we the people of swindon are getting a host of leisure pursuits without capital investment--and to boot--more jobs and an income. itsamess

Jim Royle says...
3:57pm Sun 6 May 12

Think it looks a great idea myself. The site troll acting in his repulsive manner still i see. Shame he aint banned but only a matter of time i'm sure Jim Royle

Bored of Robfm says...
4:33pm Sun 6 May 12

You would hope so Bored of Robfm

MrAngry says...
7:40pm Sun 6 May 12

itsamess, if I have understood the post correctly, Bob is referring to domestic rates (ie. council tax) not business rates. A tenant would usually be liable for Council tax depending on the terms of the tenancy agreement. MrAngry

itsamess says...
8:03pm Sun 6 May 12

AG Robfm says... 7:29am Sun 6 May 12 You pillock, as well as the business paying non-domestic rates, we also pay domestic rates. I responded Bob--but you claim you are just an employee--and unless the rules have changed--employees are not responsible for the rates. Is that clear? itsamess

MrAngry says...
8:25pm Sun 6 May 12

Very clear. An employee of the business and therefore not liable for the non-domestic rates, but also a tenant jointly liable for council tax (domestic rates). MrAngry

Phantom Poster says...
8:33pm Sun 6 May 12

[quote][p][bold]Robfm[/bold] wrote: Off thread, who else thinks the photo of the men the Police would like to speak to look very much like the Military.[/p][/quote]Has it occurred to you that there might well be a reason why the Adver have disallowed comments on that article? But of course, as usual you have decided that you are much too important for such restrictions! Were you booted out of the police force for incompetence? Phantom Poster

Even Angrier Monkey says...
10:36pm Sun 6 May 12

make this happen. . Swindon REALLY needs something like this. Even Angrier Monkey

Comment now! Register or sign in below.

Or