Sir,

While it is a beautiful sight to see some of the more attractive kites being flown on South Beach, I hope to alert the appropriate authorities to an accident hazard they potentially pose, by placing this letter in the Observer. Last time I wrote regarding the danger of the loose handrail on the descent to South Beach, the matter was attended to within a fortnight of my letter appearing on your page, although the rail had been out of its socket for six months previously. I am very much hoping that the current issue will be addressed as promptly.

Several of the kite-flyers operate quite close to the seashore, where people are often walking or paddling. On one occasion when I was walking there and the wind was not strong enough to keep someone's kite up, I became entangled with the strings as it came down.

The kite-flyers operate over quite an extensive range, so it's difficult to avoid them, and the kite strings, though fine, are very strong and I suggest it is only a matter of time before a serious accident occurs, if the strings tangled around a walker's neck.

The situation is exacerbated by one of the kite-flyers operating from a go-kart type vehicle, thus making the range in which he flies his kite very extensive indeed. Is using a vehicle to fly kites on the beach actually permitted by the bye-laws?

Other townspeople have expressed concern to me on this issue and it has been suggested that kite-flying is restricted to certain times, like dog-walking, on the beaches. One Tenby resident of many years has also suggested to me that a 'resort warden' ought to be appointed by Tenby Town Council or Pembrokeshire County Council, to check on all issues of disrepair and safety - both for the benefit of Tenby residents and for the many visitors we have.

I hope the authorities will not be so lackadaisical regarding this matter so that it will take an accident to occur (as we hear in so many instances in the national news) before safety measures are put in place. How wonderful if Tenby were to prove itself a national leader in addressing public health and safety issues before a tragedy occurs.

To kite-flyers I would say I'm certainly no killjoy regarding their pursuit: there's no-one who likes more seeing beautiful kites being flown on a breezy day - but I'm sure these people would be the last to wish to create a potential hazard to other people using the South Beach.

Ann-Ruth Alton (Miss) MA,

3 Islay Court,

Victoria Street,

Tenby.