A Tenby man expressed his concern this week over the fact than none of the resort's county or town councillors attended a meeting in Haverfordwest to discuss the Dyfed-Powys Police budget for 2003/04.

Mr. Ken Fryer, of St. Teresa's, St. Florence Parade, said that the budgetary meeting was well attended, with representatives from towns and villages from throughout the Dyfed-Powys Police area.

"The presentation by the top police officer for the area, his chief superintendent and their colleagues was enthusiastically put, and most importantly of all, no one there could have been in any doubt as to the commitment of their team to this area," Mr. Fryer told the Observer this week.

"Sadly, not one county councillor or town councillor from Tenby showed up and as a result, apart from a few interested individuals, our town did not make a showing," he continued.

"Now, I am sure that councillors have much on their plate at this time, theirs is not an easy job and is much demanding of time and energy, but by not attending that meeting, the wrong signals may have appeared to have been sent out.

"Dyfed-Powys Police could be forgiven for thinking that we do not care about our town and surrounding area, but that is just not true.

"There are people who have genuine concerns, hopes and aspirations for the town and its future policing, and should it not be right that they are represented at so important a meeting?" he asked.

"Let us show that we have learned from this one-off error and ensure that it cannot happen again."

Mayor of Tenby, Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, said that it was regrettable that no town councillor was able to attend the meeting.

"The role of a town councillor is a voluntary one and unfortunately no one was able to attend that evening," she said.

"However, we have an excellent working relationship with Inspector Les Clarke and his policing team in Tenby," she continued.

"We hold liaison meetings between the local police, the town council and county councillor Mickey Folland at least six times a year and the police are always at the end of the telephone if there are matters to discuss with them, which they always deal with to the best of their ability.

"Inspector Clarke is fully aware of our concerns about the policing of Tenby and our aspirations for the future and I have no doubt that these views have been conveyed to higher ranks."