THE group which owns Radio Pembrokeshire has confirmed it is looking at the way its services in west Wales are delivered following claims that it is pulling presenters and producers out of its Narberth studios.

Information passed to the Western Telegraph said the group was planning for “all future radio programming to come from Cardiff.”

It said presenters and producers have been told that they are facing redundancy and that just a skeleton sales staff would remain in Narberth.

The Western Telegraph understands meetings with staff are continuing today.

The information handed to the Western Telegraph, reads: “Nation Broadcasting, the group which owns Radio Pembrokeshire/Carmarthenshire/Ceredigion is to close its Narberth broadcasting centre in November with all future radio programming to come from Cardiff.

“It is expected that programmes could be shared with other stations in the group such as Swansea Bay Radio and Bridge FM (Bridgend).

“Presenters and producers were informed this week that they face redundancy however there will still be a skeleton sales team operating from the Narberth site.

“The move is a cost cutting exercise with the group favouring to implement much cheaper programme sharing across multiple radio stations rather than maintain the individual local services.

"This follows a recent move which saw all 'local' news services being replaced with outsourced bulletins prepared and recorded in Leeds.”

The Western Telegraph contacted Martin Mumford, Group Managing Director of Nation Broadcasting.

Mr Mumford said much of the information passed to the Western Telegraph was not factually correct and provided the following statement.

“At Nation Broadcasting we are investing in technology and resources and looking to improve our business all the time.

“At the moment we’re discussing proposals around the future technical delivery of our West Wales services and until that process is complete it would be inappropriate to comment in detail.

“However, I can confirm that there are no plans to re-brand any of the market-leading services in West Wales or diminish the specific local information we provide to thousands of listeners across the area every day.”

Mr Mumford was asked to confirm what details of the information handed to the Western Telegraph was not correct.

He said the information about a skeleton sales team operating from the Narberth site and the move being a cost cutting exercise with the group favouring to implement much cheaper programme sharing across multiple radio stations rather than maintain the individual local services, were not correct.