Royal Mail will not say how much money was spent maintaining the Fishguard delivery office that it now plans to close – with one suggestion that it may be as much as £100,000.

The issue of cash spent on the delivery office was raised by Pembrokeshire County Council’s Economic Overview and Scrutiny committee last week.

Four Royal Mail representatives visited the meeting to explain the decision to close the Fishguard office and merge it with the Merlins Bridge premises.

Goodwick County Councillor Moira Lewis questioned the decision, stating that she understood a significant amount of money had been spent on the office.

“I have been told a total of £100,000 was spent on it,” she said, although the representatives present were unable to give an answer on the amount spent.

Following the meeting, the Western Telegraph contacted Royal Mail to ask for the figures.

Spokesman Val Bodden said: “As a business operating in a competitive and commercial environment, we would not disclose the detail of the costs involved.”

She added the “essential maintenance work” completed in 2009 included the demolition of a garage, “found to be beyond economic repair” and repairs to roofing and windows.

Cllr Lewis said that the loss of the office would be a blow to the area and although it was not the nail in coffin, it was quite close to that.

Local member Myles Pepper raised questions over the parking of delivery vehicles overnight and said that communication had been quite poor.

“On the ground you need to be sure you have your economic argument right,” he said.

Stuart Taylor, head of external relations for Royal Mail in Wales told the committee that modernisation was taking place as 40% less mail had been posted over the last five years, as a result of factors such as people communicating in different ways.

He said: “Across Wales five delivery units have merged into one site”, which he said had happened successfully and that no jobs had been lost as a result.

“The most important thing with the greatest respect to you, is our own people.

“They have been involved from day one,” he added.

“This is not about losing very valued and hard working people.”

medi.george@ westerntelegraph.co.uk