Conservative Party Leader, Michael Howard, visited Tenby yesterday (Thursday), to meet with local traders and members of the public to discuss problems with binge drinking and anti-social behaviour in the town. Mr. Howard was accompanied on the walkabout by David Morris, the Conservative candidate for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire. Both MPs stopped off at a number of premises in the town, meeting with shop proprietors who were keen to air their concerns and views about the 'anti-social behaviour' tag that Tenby has been labelled with. The two MPs were also stopped in the street along their way by a number of locals only too happy to give examples of how the town has been troubled in recent years by the 'binge drinking' culture, with many residents concerned about the lack of police presence around the town on busy weekends - an issue that Mr. Howard was keen to tackle. "I would like to see a larger police presence around the town and places in general in the UK, as I'm very concerned by the views of residents I have met today who have to change their lifestyle simply to combat the problem of binge drinking and anti-social behaviour in their town, and it's an issue the Conservative party will do something about," commented Mr. Howard. "I'm also very concerned about the new licensing policy that has been introduced, as I don't think it's in anyone's interest to encourage 24-hour drinking," he added. However, when one resident put Mr. Howard on the spot and asked him why he had not invited any members of the town council along to meet him and discuss the issues, the Tory leader was quick to point out that he was here to "meet the people and not the politicians" - and that Mr. Morris was only too happy to liaise with local councils on such issues at any time. However, when the town's Mayor, Clr. Mrs. Sue Lane, spoke to the Observer after the visit, she was disappointed that Mr. Howard had not met up with councillors to discuss the problems that they have been campaigning to rid the town of for some time. "It would have been an ideal opportunity for a member of the town council to sum up the problems Tenby has experienced with anti-social behaviour recently," she said. "I think Mr. Howard would have certainly benefited from hearing the council's views on the subject." On departing Tenby, Mr. Howard, who used to visit the town when he was a child, said he was happy to see it was still such a beautiful place and hoped that it would remain a family-orientated resort evermore. Next stop for the Conservative leader on his visit to West Wales was Haverfordwest, where he was due to meet with the town's traders, before heading off to Hereford to meet with Newton Farm Community.