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