Sir,

Pembrokeshire council are consulting at the moment about increasing council tax on second homes by up to 100 per cent.

Has anyone really thought through the consequence for Tenby. We are a tourist town. Apart from the beaches and the harbour etc. people come for the cafés, the restaurants and pubs etc.

These facilities, which we all use, survive because of tourism. Our enjoyment of the town depends upon tourism.

The businesses we use for coffee or an evening drink would not survive on the trade of the local population.

Second home owners contribute to all of this. They eat out etc. disproportionately in excess of the local population. They may have more money than some, but they spend it in local businesses.

Second home owners do not use the local education system, make demands upon social services or other services provided and so already make a more significant contribution to the local council finances.

If the local authority have their way, some will sell, some will spend less, those who can afford it will carry on as usual.

If homes are bought by local people, then they will not spend as much in the town. They will have a mortgage to pay etc.

The proposal takes money out of the town. It will result in some businesses failing and others making less money. If these businesses fail or fail to invest, the town will be less attractive to live in and for tourists. Less people will have work.

Less people will come and decline is inevitable.

It is a misguided and ill thought out proposal which will only harm the local economy and therefore local people.

It is very easy to fall into a tax the rich mantra, but the council are wrong and they should be told so.

G. Evans,

Crackwell Street,

Tenby.