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Oakwood Discussion

Matt N said:
I think going after Oakwood specifically in this regard would be unfair. Theme parks being reliant on lowly paid roles is industry-wide, and to be honest, I don’t think it’s only theme parks that do it; it’s the whole hospitality industry. Oakwood/Aspro were not exactly an outlier in this sense.

I don’t think anyone is saying that the NI and minimum wage increases are the sole cause of Oakwood’s demise, but I can certainly believe that they could have been the straw that broke the camel’s back after many years of stagnation. If you’re just about managing, as Oakwood had been for a number of years, any rise in expenses could be the difference between just about staying afloat and going under.
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Don’t get me wrong it isn’t just aimed at Oakwood I just think it illustrates to the problem that the minute theres a move to anything approaching a fair wage you start seeing companies failing.
 
That's the problem when you make wages a political object. Who in the right mind would ever promise to get rid of it.

In any event, don't see wages or National Insurance being critical here. Unless the ride was terminal without it, re-tracking Megafobia made little sense.

The place is a victim of geography and ineffective ownership and management. I would fear for Pleasurewood Hills as well - many many similar warning signs.
 
I highly, highly doubt the NI rise played a significant factor in Oakwood ceasing operation - it’s just a convenient scapegoat. The place has been on a death spiral for years with abysmal attendance figures and poor management, combined with a massive CapEx expenditure that didn’t pay off in the form of the Megafobia retracking.

It’s incredibly sad but I really don’t think it’s a surprise to anyone that it’s come to this.
 
A statement from Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan
I am deeply saddened by the news that Oakwood Theme Park will be closing.

This is a huge blow for the dedicated staff, the local community, and the tourism economy of Pembrokeshire.

For over three decades, Oakwood has been a beloved attraction, bringing joy to generations of families and visitors from across Wales and beyond. It has been a key employer in the region and a vital part of our tourism offer, and its closure will be felt keenly by many.

My immediate thoughts are with the staff who have lost their jobs and their livelihoods. I urge Aspro Parks to do everything possible to support their employees at this difficult time, including exploring redeployment opportunities within their wider business.

This closure highlights the pressures facing the tourism and hospitality industry. There are significant economic challenges as the industry changes and continues to recover from the pandemic. It is crucial that we work together to support the sector and safeguard the jobs and attractions that are so important to our communities.

I will be engaging with all relevant stakeholders to assess the impact of this closure and explore what can be done to support the local economy in the wake of this decision.

If you have been affected by this closure and need support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch with my office.
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Well, that's another part of my childhood confined to the scrapbook of history.

Very sad to lose Oakwood, I had my fears when I heard Aspro were taking over as they've never been a company who invest heavily.

The only hope would be for someone like zip world to take over and make it an adventure park of some sort with Megafobia a pay per ride attraction.
 
Well this one hits hard, even if the writing was on the wall.

Been lucky to visit Oakwood a few times, once in the late 90’s and twice more around the mid 2010’s. Probably should’ve visited more recently, but too late now.

The biggest casualty will be Megafobia, which was an iconic ride and also my first wooden coaster too. I also enjoyed other offerings from speed, drenched and their after dark events. I remember nutty Jake’s on my first visit too.

Such a massive blow to both the U.K. and overall industry, especially with what rides we will lose. This really is a bleak time for the U.K. park industry at the moment.
 
Matt Creek said:
Such a massive blow to both the U.K. and overall industry, especially with what rides we will lose. This really is a bleak time for the U.K. park industry at the moment.
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Because of Oakwood's sudden demise (after at least a decade on life-support) and now being permanently denied two excellent roller coasters, the world economy being shakey, and Merlin possibly in crisis as a company, I now might as well pay Alton Towers a visit this year when it's still in its current half-decent state and when it too could go into a genuine decline like Oakwood did after facing serious competition (they say Ireland's Tayto Park upgrading and renamed Emerald Park was the beginning of the end for Oakwood, like Universal UK could be for Altons).
 
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