AN ambitious plan to revamp the Health Hydro could move a step closer to reality when chancellor Rishi Sunak unveils his Budget today.

Swindon Borough Council has bid for £25m of Towns Fund money from the government – and would spend a fifth of that at the Milton Road facility.

The refurbishment of the 19th century Grade II*-listed Health Hydro would include re-opening the small pool.

Cabinet member for the town centre, heritage and culture Dale Heenan told members of the resources and corporate committee he was hoping for good news today.

Coun Heenan said: “We had hoped to hear in December last year about our bid for money from the Towns Fund – but the government was busy with the increasing rates of Covid-19 and that announcement was delayed. We are hoping we will hear as part of the Budget speech.”

The Towns Fund money is earmarked for seven projects. The other six are fitting out the Carriage Works for Create Studios, a new use for the Brunel Centre tented market, regenerating the David Murray John Tower and enabling work at the Kimmerfields development.

Councillors were discussing a report into the impact of Covid-19 on leisure provision in the borough – including the Oasis centre which has been shut since the October lockdown.

Specialist operator GLL runs six pools and leisure centres on a direct contract with the borough council – and was in charge of the Oasis under a separate agreement with leaseholder Seven Capital.

It was that arrangement which makes Oasis ineligible for money offered by the government in support.

The council’s head of property Rob Richards said: “The government announced in December 2020 that it is introducing a National Leisure Recovery Fund, to is to make available funding to local authorities for them to use to help any direct leisure provider to reopen facilities once lockdown restrictions have been eased.

“The council has applied for funding and is awaiting the outcome of its application.”

This money would be on top of the £200,000 the council has provided GLL to cover its losses sustained during the first lockdown last year.

Mr Richards told members GLL had experienced losses over the year it had run the centre and lockdown meant it could not afford to pay the rent to Seven Capital by the time it said it could not carry on.

Bosses at both Seven Capital and GLL told members of the council’s scrutiny committee last week the Oasis needed millions of pounds spent in refurbishment to make it viable.

Labour councillor Claire Crilly asked: “If the responsibility for Oasis is with Seven Capital, is it their fault it wasn’t maintained to a standard which meant it could carry on?”

Mr Richards said: “”It’s not for me to says whether it’s anyone’s fault – but it is a very challenging building to run. The dome for example, is very expensive to heat.”

Conservative Jenny Jefferies said: “If we want an iconic pool then we have the Health Hydro right there. I can’t think of a better place – it’s the birthplace of the NHS which is keeping us all going right now.”