News

Oakwood to reopen for Half Term Holidays, as HSE continues with investigation

Published

4 years ago

October 25, 2022

OAKWOOD THEME PARK will reopen for the half term holiday in Wales on Saturday (Oct 29).

The park was closed following an accident on Sunday in which a man was reportedly thrown from the Treetops rollercoaster, leading to a medical evacuation by Wales Air Ambulance, and the evacuation and closure of the site.

A statement from Oakwood Theme Park released on Monday (Oct 24) reads as follows: “We are deeply saddened by the incident that took place on our Treetops ride on Sunday 23rd October in which one of our visitors sustained an injury.

“We are co-operating fully with the HSE investigation into the incident and are unable to comment further at this stage.

“The health, safety, and wellbeing of all our visitors and staff is of paramount importance to us.

“Following guidance from the HSE, Oakwood Theme Park will re-open for the half term holiday in Wales on Saturday 29th October as planned with Treetops remaining closed during the period of investigation.

“All guests affected by yesterday’s closure, will be contacted directly by a member of our team.”

On Tuesday, a woman claiming to be a former employee of the theme park, Faith MacKeen released a video on TikTok claiming that safety at the park was inadequate, and maintenance procedures were not being adhered to.

By lunchtime Ms MacKeen’s video had been viewed several thousand times.

She said: “To my knowledge the safety inspections are not up to standard and do not happen often enough.

“The budget for the maintenance of rides has been reduced in recent times”, she explained.
One person commented on the video, claiming to be a maintenance engineer at Oakwood, verifying Ms McKeen’s comments.

However, the full facts of the incident are currently unknown and under investigation so any claims by those who suggest they have the answers should be taken with a pinch of salt.

HSE Head of operations in Wales, Sian Clayton confirmed: “Our inspectors are investigating an incident on the Treetops rollercoaster at Oakwood Theme Park.

She added: “We will provide more information when we can.”

Speaking to the BBC, Dr Harriet Lloyd, from Carmarthen, said she was waiting for her husband and son, who were on the ride during the incident.

She witnessed people on the ride “started screaming and saying stop” before a man was thrown to the ground.

Dr Lloyd said: “One of the carriages on the back of the ride had been shaking as it had been going round. It looked like the last few carriages were loose and wobbling.”

She said her husband had noticed there was a man and a teenage girl in the carriage at the back of the ride.

“When he turned around the man was no longer there, and then they saw him on the second descent of the ride, and he’d obviously been thrown out of carriage.

“He could see him and then the passengers were trying to help hold the last carriage on because the girl was still in it and it was still moving around.”

Dr Lloyd said that after the ride was stopped her husband was then told that staff were going to assist the man, and an air ambulance came about 15 minutes later.

“I wasn’t on the ride but I was a bit upset at the fact that my husband and son were on the ride, so if they had been a couple carriages back it could have been one of them.”

The Mirror has reported that one eyewitness, who wished to remain anonymous, said he was among the first people on the ride but was told there would be a 10-minute wait as engineers were working on an issue.

“We waited for a bit and saw the engineers right in front of us doing some work,” he said.

“We decided to come back in a bit. We returned 10 minutes later and saw people getting on the ride, so we returned and sat near the front.

“Less than a minute into the ride I heard horrific screams and noticed the back end of the coaster slipping and sliding off the track and a girl crying in severe distress and what appeared to be the bar raised.”

He added: “I shouted for the ride to stop and staff were clearly panicking to get it stopped. It went on for a bit before it grinded to a halt.

“We had to evacuate the ride on a bend and staff were present to help people off. I saw a mobile phone and a flip flop on the grass and realised someone must have come off the ride.

“A group of girls were in shock and I asked them if they were ok which clearly they weren’t.

“When I went to retrieve my bag I saw a gentleman lying face down with a member of staff and a paramedic. He wasn’t moving but staff later told me he was conscious and talking.”

Climate

Blue sea creatures wash up on Welsh beaches including Tenby

Published

9 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

VISITORS to Welsh beaches have been warned not to touch unusual blue sea creatures which have washed ashore along parts of the coastline.

Hundreds of velella velella, commonly known as by-the-wind sailors, have been reported on beaches in Anglesey, Gwynedd and Tenby.

The small, bright blue marine creatures are free-floating hydrozoans and are related to Portuguese man o’ war, sea anemones and corals.

They get their name from a small sail-like structure on their body, which catches the wind and carries them across the surface of the sea.

One was spotted on Tenby South Beach on Tuesday (Jun 16), where beachgoer Maxine Allinson described it as “fantastic” and “like a crystal”.

Marine experts say the creatures are often seen after changes in currents or stormy weather, which can push large numbers ashore at the same time.

Although they are much smaller and less dangerous than Portuguese man o’ war, they do have stinging cells.

Their sting is usually mild, but people are being advised not to pick them up, especially as contact with the face, lips or sensitive skin could cause pain or tingling.

Experts also warn that the stinging cells can remain active even after the creatures appear to be dead on the beach.

The advice is to admire them from a safe distance and leave them where they are.

Caption: Maxine Allinson spotted a velella velella on Tenby South beach Tuesday

Local Government

Mayor to hold drop-in session for Haverfordwest residents

Published

9 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST residents will have the chance to raise ideas, concerns and local issues directly with the town’s mayor this week.

Cllr Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner will hold a Talk to Your Mayor session on Thursday, from 12:00pm until 2:00pm.

The initiative is aimed at giving residents an opportunity to speak directly with the mayor about matters affecting the town and wider community.

Cllr Thomas-Turner said communication and engagement were “vital”, adding that the session was about listening to local people, working together, and ensuring every voice had the opportunity to be heard.

Anyone wishing to book an appointment is asked to contact the Haverfordwest Town Council town clerk.

The mayor said: “Together, we can continue building a stronger and more connected community. Together we can make Haverfordwest the best in the west.”

News

Senedd rejects Reform call to end Welsh Government international spending

Published

11 hours ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE SENEDD has rejected a Reform UK motion calling for an end to all Welsh Government international spending, after a heated debate which saw several Members walk out of the chamber.

The motion, tabled by Reform MS Llŷr Powell, was defeated by 48 votes to 37 on Wednesday (Jun 17).

An amended motion, backing Wales’ reputation as an “internationalist, tolerant and outward-looking nation”, was then passed by the same margin.

The debate followed warnings from Hub Cymru Africa and other campaigners that ending international spending would damage Wales’ global reputation and undermine projects linking Welsh communities with partners overseas.

Reform argued that Welsh Government money should be focused on domestic pressures, including the NHS, schools, transport and the cost of living.

Welsh Conservative leader Darren Millar backed the Reform motion, saying foreign relations and international development were matters for the UK Government rather than Cardiff Bay.

But Plaid Cymru and Welsh Government speakers rejected that argument, saying Wales’ international work supported trade, public services, education, health partnerships and the country’s reputation abroad.

The debate became heated after comments by Reform MS Joe Martin, who criticised overseas schemes including beekeeping and tree-planting projects in Uganda.

Several MSs left the Siambr during his contribution, with the Llywydd later urging Members to reflect on the tone of the debate.

Hub Cymru Africa had said before the vote that Wales’ international solidarity budget represented a tiny fraction of overall spending and helped deliver work in public health, climate action, women’s empowerment and sustainable development.

The organisation said the vote was an opportunity for the Senedd to reaffirm Wales’ place in the world.