Sir,

The report in last week's Tenby Observer on the need for a low water landing stage in Tenby is quite correct. I would however question the retention of the now redundant lifeboat station and slipway.

Maintenance costs can be quite frightening. For example, the RNLI have provided details of expenditure since 1982 which on the face of it are generally within reason. What is not mentioned is the £430,000 spent in 1978 to extend the life for another 50 years. Thirty of those years have almost passed so the possibility of heavy expenditure in 2028 or before is likely. I fear that cost will fall back on the local authority and through Council Tax on everyone, whereas the Institution is prepared to fund the removal of the whole structure.

Bear in mind also that initially, a feasibility study was done on the possibility of extending and altering the existing station for the new Tamar class lifeboat and it was concluded that costs were on a par with the new build.

It has been said for some time that a stone faced jetty keyed into Castle Hill on Castle Sands would be the ideal spot and would be far more cost effective than trying to breath new life into a decaying structure. Shore works can be very costly and ongoing, particularly on older structures.

Arthur Squibbs, Tenby.