PEMBROKE marked International Women’s Day on Saturday (Mar 8) with a successful cawl competition, bringing the community together to celebrate and support local women.

The event, organised by Pembroke Town Team, saw participants enjoy a variety of cawl, including vegetarian and vegan options, from Gio Recchia Pizza Contemporanea, Watermans Arms, Buddy’s Baked, and Will’s of Pembroke.

A key highlight was the inspiring speeches from local women who play a vital role in the community. Information stalls were also present, with groups such as New Pembrokeshire Pride, Pembroke Street Pastors, and Lamphey WI sharing resources and support.

Local businesswomen showcased their products, offering visitors the chance to browse and buy from a range of stalls.

The event was made possible thanks to a donation from Pembrokeshire Women, which organisers said played a crucial role in ensuring the day’s success. Volunteers, including Lisa Boswell, Angela Marston Halifax, Rhian Cowen, Ness Moseley, Ann Mortenson, and Tegan, worked tirelessly to keep things running smoothly, with Lewis George stepping up as compere.

Organisers thanked all those who attended, saying the support from the community made the event truly special.

THE SUDDEN closure of Oakwood Theme Park, Wales’ largest theme park, has sparked concerns about the financial sustainability of the country’s tourism industry, with business owners warning that increased National Insurance (NI) contributions could push more attractions to the brink.

Oakwood, a staple of Welsh tourism for nearly 40 years, announced its closure last week, citing “unrelenting economic challenges,” including rising operational costs, falling visitor numbers, and increased wage and tax burdens. The move has sent shockwaves through the tourism sector, with fears that other major attractions could suffer a similar fate.

Financial pressure mounting

Industry leaders have pointed to the recent increase in employer NI contributions as a significant factor exacerbating financial difficulties. Under the latest changes, the employer NI rate rose from 13.8% to 15%, while the threshold for contributions was lowered from £9,100 to £5,000. These adjustments, which took effect in April 2025, have placed an additional estimated £1 billion burden on the UK’s hospitality and tourism sectors.

Kate Nicholls, Chief Executive of UKHospitality, warned: “The scale of this change is unprecedented, bringing three-quarters of a million people into this employer tax for the first time. The impact will be enormous, forcing businesses to abandon investment, change recruitment plans, reduce headcounts, and increase prices to cope with these cost increases.”

Welsh attractions at risk

The concerns extend beyond Oakwood, with fears that other key Welsh attractions could struggle under the increased tax burden. Smaller family-run sites, seasonal tourism businesses, and even large-scale operations dependent on high visitor numbers may be particularly vulnerable.

Dominic Paul, CEO of Whitbread, which owns Premier Inn and other hospitality businesses, highlighted the disproportionate effect of rising NI costs: “These increases disproportionately affect part-time and minimum wage workers, which could hinder growth and employment opportunities across the sector.”

Giles Fuchs, owner of Burgh Island Hotel, echoed similar concerns: “The hospitality sector plays a crucial role in employment across the UK, contributing £93bn to the economy annually. The NI hike risks stifling growth at a critical time, putting thousands of jobs in jeopardy.”

Closure fears across Wales

The ripple effects of Oakwood’s closure are already being felt in Pembrokeshire, where local businesses reliant on visitor traffic are anticipating a sharp downturn. Local café owner Bethan Hughes said: “Oakwood brought thousands of visitors to the area every year. We’ve already seen bookings drop, and it’s worrying to think what could happen if other attractions close too.”

Meanwhile, the Welsh tourism board has called for urgent support measures to prevent further closures. A spokesperson said: “Tourism is one of Wales’ biggest economic drivers, and we need targeted relief to help businesses cope with these rising costs. Without action, we could see a major decline in the sector.”

Calls for Government intervention

With concerns mounting, industry figures are urging the government to reconsider its policies. UKHospitality and other business leaders are lobbying for a reversal of the NI increase or targeted tax relief for tourism businesses to mitigate the impact.

Nick White, CEO of Bistrot Pierre, which recently announced the closure of eight UK locations due to rising costs, warned: “If the government does not step in, we will see more closures, more job losses, and a damaged tourism industry that will take years to recover.”

As Wales braces for an uncertain tourism season, businesses, workers, and visitors alike are left wondering whether further attractions will follow Oakwood into closure—or if policymakers will step in to prevent an industry-wide crisis.

A FORMER sub-postmaster from Roch, Pembrokeshire, who was wrongly prosecuted in the Horizon IT scandal, has said he was left “in disbelief” after being offered less than 17% of his compensation claim.

Tim Brentnall was prosecuted in 2010 for false accounting after a £22,500 shortfall was identified at his branch. In 2021, his conviction was overturned, and he submitted a claim for full financial redress to the Post Office last August. Four months later, in December, he received a response that he described as “litigation all over again.”

Speaking to the BBC, Mr Brentnall said: “[I was] just in disbelief. What I prepared myself for and what came were two totally different things. It very much reminded me of receiving a summons to court from the Post Office the first time around.”

Legal battle continues

Mr Brentnall, who had his claim prepared by lawyers and forensic accountants, said his offer was significantly lower than expected. “We haven’t picked these figures out of the air,” he added.

He is one of 736 former sub-postmasters who were prosecuted due to faults in the Horizon computer system. His response from the Post Office came in a 50-page letter dismissing much of his claim, along with nearly 15,000 supporting documents that he has spent the past three months reviewing for re-submission.

“You sit down and get to a number or percentage where you think, ‘well, that’s enough for me to walk away and draw a line under it.’ But what I was offered was nowhere near that.”

Victims still waiting

Mr Brentnall highlighted the case of Terry Walters, a fellow former sub-postmaster who died in February without receiving full financial redress, despite submitting his claim more than a year ago.

“I’m 43, I can afford to wait,” he said. “But there are so many people much older than me who should be able to sit back, relax, and enjoy the years they’ve got left. Instead, they’re still fighting.”

He criticised the slow pace of compensation payments, pointing out that the UK government was able to act swiftly when public opinion demanded it. “Surely they can do something, because people are dying, and it’s not fair.”

A devastating impact

Mr Brentnall and his parents had bought the shop in Roch when he was 22, hoping to secure a future in the community where he grew up. That future was shattered in 2009 when auditors found a discrepancy and he was suspended before being taken to Haverfordwest police station for questioning.

“It was horrific. I felt totally alone and helpless. Even though I knew I hadn’t taken any money, my parents were desperate to make up the missing funds, so they took out a loan to cover the supposed debt. Then I was prosecuted anyway.”

His conviction meant he was given an 18-month suspended sentence and 200 hours of community service. “It wiped out any savings my parents had, the business we had, and cost me any future employment for the last 15 years.”

In 2021, his conviction was finally overturned, and he gave evidence to the Post Office inquiry the following year.

Government steps in

On Monday, the UK government confirmed it would take over responsibility for the Overturned Convictions Scheme, which compensates those who have had their convictions quashed.

A spokesperson for the Post Office said more than £768m had been paid to 5,100 people affected by the scandal, adding: “We continue to listen to feedback to make improvements to the redress process for those affected.”

However, for Mr Brentnall and many others, the fight for fair compensation continues.