Sir, Tenby has been a popular holiday resort for over a hundred years and throughout that time there has been a problem with late night outbreaks of rowdiness and hooliganism on the streets. The only difference with the modern 'anti-social behaviour' is the increase in female participation, which is a nationwide phenomenon. Compared with most other city/town centres, Tenby has a relatively low incidence of anti-social behaviour, but does need from the Police a more high profile presence and a policy of zero tolerance, which will contain the problem. In the meantime, it behoves residents to give greater reasoned thought to the consequences of any new proposals or innovations. As part of the pedestrianisation package came the 'Café Culture' image of people sitting quietly in the closed-off streets sipping coffee in the sun. In reality, Tenby now has a 'Beer Garden Culture', with the majority of premises setting out tables and chairs being licensed premises. Therefore, it is no wonder that there has been a rise in daytime alcohol-related incidents. More recently, it has been proposed that all licensed premises should close at midnight, despite the object lessons to be observed in other towns, which have a uniform closing time. A part of being on holiday, for many people, is the freedom to stay out later than normal enjoying themselves, and to curtail this pleasure will provoke irritation and deter them from returning to Tenby. Uniform midnight closing would encourage 'binge' drinking as closing time approaches and more people taking cans/bottles of alcohol on to the streets to continue drinking. It would mean between 500 to 1,000 drinkers, some irritated and looking for trouble, being decanted onto the streets at the same time, with the inevitable consequence of increased incidents of serious anti-social behaviour EVERYnight. It was to avoid this very problem that the Police supported the staggered closing times that we have in Tenby today. As a solution to anti-social behaviour, midnight closing is akin to blaming car dealers for the parking problems in Tenby. I fully respect the rights of residents of Tenby to enjoy a peaceful environment, but any measures introduced to achieve this objective must be examined carefully to ensure that they are not counter-productive.
John H. T. Griffiths,
3 Scotsborough View, Tenby.