I was very disappointed to discover last week that the wave machine was not included as part of the plans to reopen our beloved Oasis Leisure Centre. Like many people here in Swindon, I loved the wave machine and enjoyed it with my kids. It was a huge part of the leisure centre’s attraction and I share North Swindon MP Justin Tomlinson’s view that without a wave machine, the Oasis would have a significantly reduced appeal, which would reduce the number of paying customers. We need the Oasis not only to reopen but to remain financially viable to secure its future.
I would like to thank the Save the Oasis Campaign Group for raising awareness of this important issue so that along with other residents here in Swindon, I could call upon Seven Capital and Swindon Borough Council to reconsider this decision.
There was good news last night when shortly before a council meeting, it was confirmed that Seven Capital and Swindon Borough Council had reconsidered the decision and a wave machine will now be included in the plans. During the meeting, there was further good news when it was confirmed that the Domebusters would also be part of the plans.
Ever since the closure of the Oasis Leisure Centre, I have worked with all those concerned with the future of this iconic venue in order to help find a way forward that will allow the Oasis to reopen. There is no doubt that we still have a long way to go, but this small step in the right direction is encouraging, and when it comes to important issues like the reopening of the Oasis, I will continue to work hard on behalf of local residents.
I was very pleased to be back at New College last Friday to spend the afternoon with politics students. We discussed the rule of law, parliamentary democracy, the right to protest, human rights, Rwanda, and all of the big issues, in a very well-informed series of questions and answers. It was great to meet the students and I would like to pay tribute to the staff and everybody at New College for supporting the politics classes. We have got a really bright future here in Swindon if that is the quality of debate we are having.
I was also very pleased to welcome two classes from Hazelwood Academy in West Swindon to the Education Centre in Parliament on Monday. The children were asking brilliant questions and we had a really lively question and answer session. The children also enjoyed a full tour of parliament along with their teachers and teaching assistants. I would welcome other schools and colleges to take advantage of this free facility here at the Parliament Education Centre. Further information can be found here https://learning.parliament.uk/en/visit-us/
As part of my work in Parliament, I showed support for Heritage at Risk in South Swindon by attending a Historic England Drop-In last week. I used this opportunity to discuss the Mechanics Institute with representatives from Historic England, highlighting the current work that is taking place around this important building in the Railway Village after Swindon was awarded £4 million of Government funding in 2020.
You may recall my visit to Holy Rood Church on the Lawns in the Summer, which is also on Historic England at risk list. Holy Rood Church was a site of Christian worship here in Swindon for many centuries and I have been talking with my friends in the Christ Church Parish to establish the level of will that there is to conserve and enhance the church. Whilst the church is no longer consecrated, it is in fact council property, and it is incumbent on all of us to work hard to make sure that we can allow this site to continue to be enjoyed for generations to come.
Finally, my charity of the week is Severn Freewheelers, the charity which operates the Blood Bike service in our area, saving the NHS thousands of pounds a year by transporting blood, tissue, donated milk, and other essential medical supplies free of charge.
To make this happen the charity relies on volunteer co-ordinators who make sure the riders - who all hold advanced motorcycling qualifications - are in the right place at the right time, usually outside normal working hours and including weekends and bank holidays.
You can learn more about the blood bikes you see at Great Western Hospital, or being ridden in the area, and what goes on behind the scenes by visiting http://www.severnfreewheelers.org.uk/
