With reference to all the correspondence in the Tenby Observer regarding the anti-social behaviour, I feel a huge point is being missed. The profile of Tenby as a popular resort for families, for party people, for pensioners' holidays, for weekend breaks, has never been higher than it is today. Therefore, the simple logic is this, Tenby attracts and caters for thousands of people of all ages, from all walks of life, and the uniqueness of the town means that they can all come here and have a good time and be happy. The simple law of averages says that the more people you have in one place, the more chance you have got of an incident occurring. Of all the thousands of people that come here, it is a natural assumption to make, to expect the odd idiot here and there, and it is this odd idiot that is generating all the bad press. Tenby is a fantastic resort to visit - one of the best in the UK - and never has it been so popular. It is hard to build up a good name for yourself and generate the reputation that Tenby now holds, but all the letters suggest to me that we are shooting ourselves in the foot and generating bad publicity when there really is no need. Learn the lesson of the resort in Greece, where all the bad publicity of last year has killed and knocked trade by 70 per cent this year and now they want to get people back. Too late - they have blown it, and if we are not careful, we will blow it here too. Tenby needs tourism. Tenby needs visitors to come in their droves to pump money into the local economy. Accept the fact that the small price to pay for this may be the odd unsavoury incident. It's life. It happens all over the UK. Accept it, and let the police deal with it where possible. And let Tenby continue to thrive the way it is doing now. The pub landlord cannot be blamed for this. We have fast food take-away premises open until 2 am. And why not? We have off-licence premises serving alcohol - how many people do you see in Tenby drinking alcohol from a can - not served by pubs? We have people arriving in Tenby drunk, and the licensees know not to serve someone who is drunk. It is not in 'the power given to them', to quote Mrs. Rees, it is against the law. The reality is that 99 per cent of people come to Tenby for a good time and that is what they have. One more point, the New Hedges shopping development, in my opinion, would not be the end of the world. It is progress. How many people from Tenby, Saundersfoot, and other local areas travel to Haverfordwest or Carmarthen or Pembroke Dock for a decent food shop or whatever? Hundreds I'll bet. One or two letters in the Tenby Observer is not necessarily the popular opinion. This development will keep people in the Tenby/Saundersfoot area and will, I feel, attract even more. A bit of quality shopping in New Hedges, then off to Tenby or Saundersfoot for a wander, a meal, a browse and more often than not, to spend more money. This is progress. It will not ruin the small shops - customers want choice and good competition. What are you all frightened of? I have no business interests in Tenby and I am therefore totally impartial, but I care very much about Tenby and the surrounding area. I can see the downward spiral we could go into if we keep giving negative publicity to Pembrokeshire's Jewel in the Crown, that is Tenby, hence this letter and my personal observations and opinions which I am sure a lot of your readers will agree with. Tenby - what a fantastic place to visit for a day, week or even for life. Keep it that way.

Steve Briers, Avondale Glass, Carmarthen Road, Kilgetty.