Mouldy leisure centre mural shows impact of closure

The mural inside Oasis in Swindon has deteriorated over years of closure

Pictures taken inside a leisure centre show the deterioration of artwork surrounding the pool after four years of closure.

A heritage report has been written regarding murals at the Oasis centre in Swindon, which closed in late 2020.

It was prepared as the centre’s de facto owner Seven Capital has put in an application for listed building consent to test the structural integrity of the concrete used in the base of the building's famous dome.

Mould has covered large parts of murals, which were painted in 1976 by Swindon artist Ken White, since the closure.

The depiction of an oasis was painted in 1976 by Swindon artist Ken White

An agreement between Swindon Borough Council and Seven Capital was signed in May, paving the way for the leisure centre's long-awaited reopening.

But the company said it has not been able to test most of the walls because of the tiles and murals on many of them – which are also protected as part of the listing of the building.

The artwork has decayed due to the building's warm and damp atmosphere

The heritage report was written by Dr Peter Wardle of the Historic Environment Consultancy, according to the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

It said: “The prospective occupiers have indicated that they have no objection to the wall paintings being retained in principle.

"This raises a debate about how far they should be repaired, restored or conserved or reproduced or if this indeed possible.

"Most of the paintings are badly damaged."

No decision has been made on the application to test the concrete supporting the dome.