The fall out over the Ironman Wales date change for next year continues, with members of Tenby Harbour Users Association stating that the triathlon organisers and Pembrokeshire County Council have ‘shot themselves in the foot’ by moving the sporting event into the school holidays.

With Ironman Wales organisers announcing that next year’s triathlon will take place earlier in 2023, on September 3, questions have been asked as to whether this will bring as much benefit to the local economy, by not holding the event beyond the summer holidays, effectively extending the season in Tenby and its surrounding area.

Concerns have been flagged-up that much holiday accommodation will already have been booked up, leaving a large number of holidaymakers and Ironman competitors and their entourages unable to book anything in the last week of August.

There is concern that businesses won’t benefit from the date change - as those that trade well during Ironman will be deprived of the extra week’s business that they usually enjoy between the end of the school holidays and the arrival of the Ironman competitors, and those that don’t trade so well will be hit by less trade during the last of their busy six weeks schools holiday period due to the influx of Ironman people at the expense of schoolchildren and their families.

The matter was discussed last week at a meeting of the committee of the Tenby Harbour Users Association (THUA).

“Unfortunately, Ironman has really shot itself in the foot by moving 2023’s event into the school holidays, September 3,” said a spokesperson for THUA.

“A lack of any stakeholder engagement will be challenged once these events encroach on the vital peak tourist season.

“Ironman in particular will argue they are brining huge numbers and exposure to the town – much of this is true but experience demonstrates these visitors have different agendas to the normal tourist.

“Shops suffer, no one is more prepared than an Ironman! Harbour businesses lose not only the Sunday on which they close but a good few days either side as accommodation is all booked out with competitors and their supporters.

“This has been accepted for a decade and Ironman is arguably still of some benefit to the town during the shoulder season.

“It is not however of any benefit once this encroaches on what is a relatively short peak season, displacing high value destination tourism with event/ sport tourism - two very different spend patterns,” they continued, with the views also being sent to Tenby’s county councillor for the South Ward, Cllr Sam Skyrme-Blackhall, and Pembrokeshire County Council’s events officer Marc Owen, outlining THUA’s objection to the date chosen.

In correspondence sent to PCC’s assistant chief executive Richard Brown, Tenby’s North ward county councillor Cllr Michael Williams has voiced his disapproval that no consultation has taken place with the majority of county councillors who represent wards in the locality that the event takes place, over the moved date of the event.

“I am concerned that this date is during peak season and before the end of the school summer holidays,” he stated.

“My concerns are that this event is being held far too early in the year and my initial understanding was that event’s such as this were to be held during the shoulder season. It is unacceptable that this date has apparently been agreed by PCC.

“To stage this event at this time will have a seriously detrimental impact on certain businesses.

“What consultation has been undertaken with Councillors? I have not been consulted in any way; in fact, I have not had it confirmed that the date has been set.

“This it completely unacceptable, and not for the first time, as an elected member have been kept out of any input on events.

“For this event to be a success it relies on the co-operation and good will of the populace most affected, and this is being eroded due to this lack of involvement pre any final decision.

“The complete lack of consultation is not acceptable. Members have a right to expect to be fully briefed prior to any decisions.

In his correspondence, Cllr Williams also raised concerns expressed by a ‘considerable number of local residents’ about the unfortunate impact of the Long Course Weekend, which takes place over three days in July, with road closures introduced for the sporting triathlon, for the past couple of events.

“One day of disruption, might be acceptable, but three days most certainly is not, and the detrimental impact on the local economy is huge. I hear calls for a total review of this event, and I hope this can be addressed urgently,” added Cllr Williams.

Tenby’s Mayor, Cllr Skyrme-Blackhall said that she had been informed by PCC that the date change had arisen due to a ‘combination of tide times and the Ironman international schedule’ with the County Council agreeing to the new date.

The local authority announced last year that Ironman will remain a Pembrokeshire sporting fixture for a further five years, as a new host sponsorship agreement with Ironman Ltd up until 2026 was approved.