A Tenby hotelier has this week called for urgent action to be taken on the growing number of stag and hen parties coming to the town.
Jim Martin, of the Hildebrand Hotel in Victoria Street, is so concerned at the drunken antics of stags and hens that he fears the resort will "become the stag capital of Wales and a no-go area for ordinary law-abiding people".
Last year, the resort was named by Maxim magazine as one of the best places in the world to go for a night out.
As a result, the town came under an intense media spotlight especially when Tenby Town councillor, Mickey Folland, suggested that the growing number of stag and hen parties the article generated should be banned because of their behaviour.
In the end, this course of action was not pursued, in favour of co-operation between the police, hoteliers and publicans in a bid to control the situation.
However, in a letter to Tenby Town Council on Tuesday night, Mr. Martin felt that this had not succeeded and was concerned that the continued growth of stag and hen party visits to the town at weekends was tarnishing the town's image and causing "people to re-think whether they should come to Tenby."
Mr. Martin, who has run the Hildebrand since 1973, said that, this past weekend, he had received complaints from several of his guests about the "foul language, abusive behaviour, noise and disgusting antics" of stag and hen groups around the town.
One visitor, he said, had been coming to the town regularly since 1947, but was now "thinking twice before coming back again."
Mr. Martin wrote that the town had been 'badly hit' during the early stages of the foot and mouth outbreak.
"But compared with the long term damage these groups are doing, it is minor," he claimed.
"Unless the council and the police wake up to this fact, this town is going to become a haven for these groups and alienate the families and ordinary people who come to Tenby for its charm and beauty."
Mr. Martin cited several incidents of drunken behaviour he himself had witnesses in the town on a Saturday evening and also claimed that many shops now closed early on Saturdays because of the problems caused by these groups.
He pointed out that other places, like Dublin and parts of France and Germany, were making a "concerted effort to stamp out these groups," but felt that Tenby seemed "prepared to accept them at the expense of our traditional patrons because it will make a quick buck for a few mercenary people in the town who are not bothered by the damage it does to the town's image."
Mr. Martin said he was trying to do his bit by refusing to accept bookings of stag and hen parties, but felt that the council and the police needed to act to rid the town of "this element".
"As long as they can get their stomachs full of alcohol and behave in any manner they like, without hindrance from the authorities, they will continue to denigrate Tenby," he claimed. "They will come in greater number knowing full well that they will not be bothered.
"Let's get a proper police presence so that they can be properly controlled," he stressed. "With that in place I have no doubt that these groups will not find Tenby a soft touch."
Mr. Martin's thoughts were echoed in a second letter to the town council from Mr. R. Broxham, of Clareston Court.
He pointed out that on Saturday, at 5.30 pm, he had witnessed a group of young people "the worse for drink" in High Street.
He claimed that they were "rolling around the road simulating sexual acts" and many passers-by could not believe what was happening.
He also claimed that a police car had passed the scene "and did nothing."
"Is this what we now have to put up with in what we know as the jewel of Pembrokeshire's holiday area?" Mr. Broxham asked. "Will those visitors who witnessed the scene return?"
Councillors commented that they shared the concerns of the letter writers and would be raising them at a special meeting arranged between themselves, the police, the local Licensed Victuallers Association and the Hotels and Restaurants Association on Monday (July 9).
Public or private?
Prior to debating the two letters, councillors also considered whether or not they, and an agenda item on stag and hen parties, should be considered in open session or taken in camera.
The Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, felt that, due to the media interest in this subject, it should be debated in closed session.
Clr. Mickey Folland, who placed the item on the agenda, disagreed with the matter being considered in private, however.
"I have never been one to hide things from the electorate," he said. "This is a very serious issue and the people of the town need to know what is going on. I think it would be justifiable for us to once again highlight the problems."
Deputy Mayor, Clr. Miss Lis James, disagreed.
The locals are well knowledged as to what goes on," she said. "A meeting has already been arranged with the police, the local Licensed Victuallers Association and the Hotels and Restaurants Association.
"All debating this will do is encourage more people to come to the town. The reason we have so many stag and hen parties this year is all the publicity the town has had on the subject."
"But the antics of these groups upsets our core visitors," replied Clr. Folland. "These people are our lifeblood, not stag and hens, and one hotelier feels so affected he is prepared to voice his concerns."
Clr. Mrs. Maureen Ward also felt that the issue should be considered in private.
"If Clr. Folland wants this in public, perhaps he should deal with all the publicity," she said. "I had no end of flak last year over all the stories in the national press."
Clr. Folland felt that, even if the agenda item was considered in private, the letters should be considered in open forum.
"None of them are marked private and confidential by the authors," he pointed out.
Clr. Miss James felt that if the letters were to be discussed in open session then the agenda item should be too.
"This issue is so serious for the town," stressed Clr. Folland. "Bringing the problem to light last year did not have the effect we thought it would."
"That is the problem," countered Clr. Miss James. "The publicity we had has caused these problems."
Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter agreed with both sides
"The more fuss we make, the more we elaborate, then the more problems we may have with the national press," she commented "However, I agree that something should be done and the fact that the locals should be aware that we are trying to do something."
It was agreed that while the letters be considered in open session, the agenda item would be discussed in camera on the proviso that all the issues would be taken up at the meeting with the police, the local Licensed Victuallers Association and the Hotels and Restaurants Association on Monday.