21st January 2023

Dear Seven Capital and David Renard, Leader of Swindon Borough Council,

The condition of the Oasis site

I’m writing to you about the state of the Oasis grounds. Back in 2020, Keep Swindon Tidy spent about six months cleaning up the site because it clearly wasn’t being maintained. This situation was detrimental to local people, to the environment and to the wildlife living there. Litter can bring down an area and bring down the people who live there. If you treat somewhere with disrespect, it’s often treated in kind. We commonly see that in areas where we work.

Much of our litter is plastic. It’s toxic and accumulates in the environment. Plastic pollution is a far greater and wider concern than ocean plastic alone. Pollution of the soil is of great concern. It can hinder the function of organisms and nature’s cycles. In turn that leads to issues such as global warming and loss of biodiversity. It can cause injury to animals. RSPCA Oak and Furrows deal with many cases of injuries to animals. There used to be a lady who lived in town who helped pigeons injured by litter, especially plastic fibres. Plastic fibres often get tangled around the pigeons’ feet and cut off circulation. This leads to pigeons losing toes, feet and can even kill the birds.

So, it’s vital for our collective well-being that we keep the environment clean and unpolluted. I walked through the Oasis grounds recently and was dismayed to see that the grounds still aren’t being maintained. I took a few photos, which you can see here.

There’s litter everywhere, a huge broken street lamp dumped amid vegetation. The bin provision is inadequate and what there is, is overflowing. Further there’s broken glass all over the skate park. There is clearly no love or care for this place from its supposed guardians. This is an awful example to set the college students in the adjacent site. At a time when we urgently need to be dealing with existential crisis, this neglect communicates all the wrong messages. As I asked at the borough council meeting on Thursday, where is the support from the borough council to deal with plastic and other pollution?

This is an awful example to set the college students in the adjacent site. At a time when we urgently need to be dealing with existential crisis, this neglect communicates all the wrong messages. I’m sure you don’t need me and Plastic Free Swindon to tell you what those messages are.

So what, if anything, are you going to do about the Oasis grounds? The current state is unacceptable. We would like to see the site regularly cleaned, more bins provided in key areas, bins regularly emptied and helpful signs. We’re willing to work with you to help positively transform this area for the benefit of the town.

I hope to hear from both parties soon with some positive actions for how we can deal with the appalling state of the Oasis.

Yours sincerely,

Ben Bell
Plastic Free Swindon / Keep Swindon Tidy co-ordinator

21st January 2023

Dear Ben,

I agree with you entirely, and I believe education is at the centre of the problem. Why people feel it is acceptable to dump their rubbish on the floor is beyond me. Whilst we have security every day and are constantly cleaning up and maintaining the site, it is an ever growing problem of people dumping their litter and waste on the site.

As a result I think it’s key to go to the core of the problem, and Seven Capital are prepared to pay for a representative from the council, or independent individual appointed by us to go around all the local schools to do an educational speech as to the dangers this causes to local wildlife, and how socially unacceptable it is to litter and fly tip. We must get to the root cause of the problem!

The police are working around the clock with us, and I have to commend them in their support and efficiency.

I am happy to agree a “message paper“ with you for circulation at the local schools and in the local community to assist you in this. Let’s get the community all pulling in the right direction to help the Oasis! Together we can make the Oasis successful again.

Please feel free to contact me directly.

Kindest regards,

Damien Siviter
Group Managing Director, Seven Capital ​

22nd January 2023

Hi Damien,

I'll respond to some key points:

"Whilst we have security every day and are constantly cleaning up and maintaining the site..."

It's clearly documented that you don't do this, by Plastic Free Swindon and other people and organisations. For example, there was a recent article in the Swindon Advertiser showing the awful state of the site. I have spoken at the site with borough council staff and staff employed by Seven Capital. They say that the site is NOT regularly cleaned / maintained. That is obvious for all to see.

"I agree with you entirely, and I believe education is at the centre of the problem."

Education is one key factor in dealing with litter / fly-tipping / pollution. However, we wrote to you about other key factors: waste facilitation, exampling, and responsibility. If the condition of the leasehold contract at the Oasis; to keep "any landscaped areas of the Property reasonably well tended" was being met, these other factors would be addressed. In our organisation's extensive experience of cleaning up areas, we see the problems caused by a lack of waste facilitation, how that contributes to litter and fly-tipping. The overflowing bins, the lack of suitable bins around the site, the poor condition of the site and buildings, all contribute to its subsequent treatment by the public. I think it's sad that you've palmed off responsibility for your duty under the leasehold contract because sorting out these issues starts with taking responsibility. Seeing as Seven Capital have consistently breached the terms of the contract, perhaps Mr Renard will tell us why there have been no consequences for that. Why have Seven Capital been allowed to consistently breach the contract and remain leaseholders?

"Seven Capital are prepared to pay for a representative from the council, or independent individual appointed by us to go around all the local schools to do an educational speech as to the dangers this causes to local wildlife..."

How about you offer this to Plastic Free Swindon, considering that this is within our core remit and experience, and considering the time and effort that we've put into cleaning up the Oasis?

"Together we can make the Oasis successful again."

That starts with responsibility. The Oasis site should be regularly cleaned and maintained, which requires adequate waste facilitation.

Kind regards,

Ben Bell
Plastic Free Swindon / Keep Swindon Tidy co-ordinator

29th January 2023

Hi Damien Siviter and David Renard,

There has been no response from the borough council, no response to the points made about the lack of waste facilitation, and no response from Seven Capital to the points we responded on or our request to fund educational activities for Plastic Free Swindon.

2 local political representatives have offered their services and those of their parties to clean up the Oasis. This is appreciated but misses the point. The responsibility to maintain the Oasis grounds lies with Seven Capital, as a condition of the leasehold contract. When will Seven Capital honour those terms and clean up the site?

Mr Renard, I ask again, why has Seven Capital been allowed to consistently breach the conditions of the leasehold contract? In the current plan, why is public land to be given to a private company to build private housing for private profit? As guardians of Swindon's public assets, this seems to be a contravention of one of the borough council's primary functions. As the SOS campaign and others have highlighted, there are cheaper, more suitable alternatives to Seven Capital which would better serve the public interest.

The firesale of public assets around the country came about due to cuts to council funding from central government. That was justified by the disinformation communicated to the public about the supposed need for austerity. Overspending in the public sector was not the cause of the financial crash of 2008. That was caused by an unregulated financial system and the criminal actions of bankers. Seen in context, the firesale of public assets seems to be part of a political agenda to transfer power from public to private; a huge public disservice that is at the heart of the gross levels of economic inequality that we are currently experiencing, aka "The Cost of Living Crisis". Many, including myself, consider it to be criminal.

Let's hope for a response this time!

Yours sincerely,

Ben Bell
Plastic Free Swindon / Keep Swindon Tidy co-ordinator

29th January 2023

Hi Ben,

Happy to meet you in London to discuss and we will cover your reasonable cost of travel. I am happy to book train tickets for you and cover taxis to and from our office from Paddington station.

Kindest regards,

Damien Siviter
Group Managing Director, Seven Capital ​

29th January 2023

Hi Damien,

No thank you. I've expressed concerns that the public interest is not being served, so I think it is vital to maintain open correspondence in the public realm. I've made several points and asked questions, which have so far been ignored by both you and council leader, David Renard. Kindly respond to those and then we can consider whether a meeting would be worthwhile. If so, a meeting in Swindon seems the sensible option considering that the Oasis is based here, and considering the local people, organisations, and representatives who may like to attend.

Thanks,

Ben Bell
Plastic Free Swindon / Keep Swindon Tidy co-ordinator

29th January 2023

No problem Ben, just thought I would extend you the courtesy.

Damien Siviter
Group Managing Director, Seven Capital ​

29th January 2023

Hi Damien,

Will you extend the courtesy of responding to the points raised and questions asked?

Thanks,

Ben Bell
Plastic Free Swindon / Keep Swindon Tidy co-ordinator

30th January 2023

Seven Capital has committed a huge amount of resource to facilitate bringing back the Oasis centre into an economically viable asset for the benefit of the community. Unfortunately, there are certain conditions that are out of anyone’s control. Parking Coronavirus to one side, it has been an extremely difficult environment to operate in; ever rising energy costs, and the listing of the Oasis has created many challenges. Seven Capital has maintained its commitment to the scheme throughout. We have made a commitment to deliver the Oasis again, and this is a commitment we intend on standing by. We are all frustrated. We have faced some extremely difficult and adverse circumstances. All parties want the same outcome…..the re-opening of the Oasis. Please understand that there is not an overnight solution, and there is a process that we must run, as any other person, developer, or council must do.

We are happy to put out some more refuse bins as you suggest, however, I question how effective this will be, but in the interest of supporting your wishes we will assist. The buildings themselves are past their functioning lifespan, and were never designed to last this long, and as such we are working with the council and English Heritage to find solutions to bring the building back into life. Whilst you state the SOS may feel there are cheaper alternative solutions (which you haven’t outlined what they are), we have received all information that has been volunteered to us by any organisation, assessed and evaluated and chosen the most appropriate in terms of energy efficiency, longevity, and appropriateness given the listing of the building. There are many consultees that have been involved with the process, and will continue to be involved going forward, who will ensure that the correct treatment and solutions are used for the Oasis.

I have volunteered to meet you to discuss and give you a more detailed background into what we have done, what we are doing, and what we are proposing to do, in much the same way I met the SOS. You have chosen to decline the offer which is a shame, but I respect your choice.

I hope that when you do see a new, improved, restored Oasis that is an asset for all the community, that you look back and feel differently than how you do now.

Kindest regards,

Damien Siviter
Group Managing Director, Seven Capital ​