Oasis' future and other dividing lines in Swindon's local election
The future of the Oasis leisure centre is back in the spotlight in Swindon, ahead of this week's local elections.
Labour took over the council last year and insist their plans remain on track to get the centre reopen and refurbished by 2026.
But their main Conservative opponents said they would be "astounded" if that happens, based on Labour's progress so far.
The fate of the derelict leisure centre, as well as the plans for redeveloping the town centre, are among the dividing lines between the main parties this year.
With one third of seats up for election, only Labour and the Conservatives have the numbers to run the council - last May Labour took control for the first time in 20 years.
With these large gains, alongside the combination of seats up for election this time, Labour is widely expected to remain easily in control after Thursday's vote.
The question is by how much, and if the party can demonstrate it can win back traditionally Labour-voting parts of town it lost four years ago.
The Conservative leader Gary Sumner is pitching instead for strong opposition councillors, conceding it would be a "mad world" in which his party were able to take back control this year.
Mr Sumner urged voters to "not just vote for the national picture, this is a local election about local issues", including scrutinising the plans for the Oasis.
"They've made big statements to people" Gary Sunmner said, but "the reality is there is no comprehensive planning application or signed agreement" on the Oasis.
"I genuinely do not believe the Oasis will be open by 2026, work may not even have started by then".
"If we don't have good strong capable councillors holding the administration to account, then bad decisions will be made", he said.
"Some of the big problems facing Swindon, the town centre, the Oasis, these aren't problems we can sort out overnight", said Labour leader Jim Robbins.
He said he was "proud" of the recent deal which "allows us to get the Oasis refurbished at no upfront cost to the council" by letting the developer SevenCapital build homes on surrounding land.
"We've made much more progress than the Conservatives managed on it", Mr Robbins said.
He insists the famous leisure centre remains on track to open in 2026 "as long as a the planning application is in and determined toward the back end of this year".
The Liberal Democrats are fielding candidates in all seats this year, with their spokesperson Stan Pajak arguing their strength lay in their lack of a party whip, allowing councillors to "stand up for the people that elect us over any political viewpoint".
The Green Party have candidates in 10 of the 20 seats, with spokesperson Rod Hebden saying his party can be an "independent voice" with a raft of candidates "already heavily involved" in their local communities.
There are also a handful of candidates from the Trades Union & Socialist Coalition, one from Reform UK, and one independent.
A full list of candidates in each part of town can be found by entering your postcode on this BBC News article.
