Bus ban meeting

Tenby town councillors are looking to organise a meeting to discuss the recent ban enforced on teenagers from travelling on a Friday night bus service from Tenby to Kilgetty. Mayor, Clr. John Griffiths told his colleagues at Tuesday evening's meeting that he had received several calls from irate parents living in the area about the situation. As reported in a recent edition of the Observer, police officers had been forced to ride on the 10.15 pm Tenby to Kilgetty via Saundersfoot bus, after reports of anti-social behaviour by youths travelling home after a night out in the town. However, Silcox Coaches who operate the service decided, with the backing of the police, that the only solution was to introduce a ban on the youths. "I've received a number of phone calls from irate parents concerned about the ban, they feel that some are being punished for the action of others and the ban is unfair," explained Mayor, Clr. Griffiths. "We all know that the problems relate to under age drinking which is something that is an issue nationwide, but my main concern would be these youngsters who can no longer travel on the bus on Friday night having to walk home to the surrounding areas of the town when its late which could be a danger," he added. Deputy Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Kerri Durham felt that it was a matter that the town council could not really get involved with and that they were better off leaving it in the hands of the town's Police Community Support Officers, as they were already dealing with the problem and knew exactly what was going on. Fellow member, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane agreed: "All we can do is sympathise with the parents of the children who are well behaved, who are getting penalised for the anti-social behaviour of others," she commented. However, Clr. Mrs. Julie Evans felt that the town council could liase with other community councils in the area affected by the issue. Mayor, Clr. Griffiths called for a meeting to be organised to discuss the matter further, with representatives of all councils involved, the bus operators, and the town's PCSOs.