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.”

Entertainment

Pembrokeshire soprano to perform at International Eisteddfod

Published

3 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HAVERFORDWEST music teacher and soprano soloist Clare Harrison is set to perform at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen next month.

Clare will sing under the baton of Sir Karl Jenkins on Tuesday, July 7, as part of the World Choir, an auditioned international chorus of singers, for the long-awaited Welsh premiere of his work One World.

She will also perform in a new commission, Greeting the Dawn, by Sam Buttler, and in Peace Child with Wrexham-based chorus NEW Voices.

Clare combines a busy teaching schedule with regular solo performances across Wales and the borders.

Her next Pembrokeshire appearance will be as soloist with Tenby Male Choir at St Mary’s Church, Tenby, on Thursday, July 16.

Caption:

Clare Harrison: The Haverfordwest soprano will perform at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen.

News

Rhun ap Iorwerth urges new deal for Wales after Starmer quits

Published

10 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

First Minister says next Prime Minister must focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for Wales’ democratic mandate

FIRST MINISTER Rhun ap Iorwerth has said the next UK Prime Minister must commit to a “new relationship with Wales” as Sir Keir Starmer prepares to leave office.

The Plaid Cymru leader said he wished Sir Keir well, but warned that political instability in Westminster was affecting the Welsh Government’s ability to engage with Number 10 on issues that matter to people in Wales.

***First Minister: Rhun ap Iorwerth says Wales needs greater powers, fair funding and respect from Westminster***

His comments came after Starmer announced on Monday (Jun 22) that he would resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party.

Starmer will remain in Downing Street until Labour selects a successor.

Mr ap Iorwerth said: “I am disappointed that the Welsh Government’s ability to engage with the UK Prime Minister on issues which matter to the people of Wales is being hampered by the turmoil in Westminster.

“I wish Sir Keir Starmer well as he prepares to leave office. I would like to see his successor recognising that Wales needs a new relationship with Westminster, with a focus on greater powers, fair funding, and respect for the democratic mandate delivered by the people of Wales.

“My government and I will always seek a constructive relationship with whoever is in Number 10, but we have clear expectations that the respect agenda must work both ways.”

In a shorter statement posted online, the First Minister added: “The next PM must commit to a new relationship with Wales — with a focus on greater powers, fair funding and respect for our mandate.”

Labour’s National Executive Committee is expected to open nominations for the party leadership on July 9, with the process due to be completed before Parliament returns from its summer break in September if a contest is required.

Andy Burnham is widely expected to enter the race after returning to Parliament following his victory in the Makerfield by-election.

The change of leadership comes at a sensitive time for Wales, with questions over fair funding, the future of devolution, public services and the relationship between Cardiff Bay and Westminster likely to feature prominently in the weeks ahead.

News

Welsh Conservatives say Starmer resignation will not fix Labour’s failures

Published

30 minutes ago

June 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Darren Millar says Wales needs “tough decisions” as Labour prepares to choose a new Prime Minister

THE LEADER of the Welsh Conservatives has said Sir Keir Starmer’s resignation will not change the impact of Labour’s failures on Wales.

Darren Millar MS said replacing one Labour leader with another would not solve the problems facing families and businesses across the country.

His comments came after Starmer announced on Monday (Jun 22) that he would resign as Prime Minister and leader of the Labour Party.

Starmer will remain in office until Labour selects a successor, with Andy Burnham widely expected to enter the race.

***Darren Millar MS: Said replacing one Labour leader with another would not solve the problems facing the country***

The Welsh Conservatives said Wales was still facing the consequences of Labour decisions on the cost of living, energy, welfare and defence spending.

They said the focus should now be on “getting Britain working again” rather than simply changing the person leading the Labour Party.

Mr Millar said: “Sir Keir Starmer may be going, but Labour’s failures remain.

“The last thing Wales and the rest of the UK needs is another Labour leader who won’t stand up to Labour MPs on welfare, energy, defence spending and action on the cost of living.

“His decision is a reminder that Kemi Badenoch is the only leader of a political party in the UK with the backbone to make tough decisions and get Britain working again.”

The resignation has triggered a major political transition at Westminster.

For Wales, the change at No 10 comes at a time of growing political pressure over public services, household costs, economic growth and the future direction of the UK Government.

Welsh Labour figures are likely to face renewed scrutiny as opposition parties seek to link the party’s record in Westminster with its long period in power in Cardiff Bay.

The Conservatives are expected to argue that a change of Labour leader will not mean a change of policy unless the party changes direction.

Starmer said in his resignation speech that becoming Prime Minister had been the “proudest moment” of his life, but accepted that his party no longer believed he was best placed to lead it into the next general election.