Brewers SA Brains were awarded £200,000 of taxpayer's money to revamp a depot in Whitland, only to close it just 14 months later, Angela Burns AM has discovered.

Now Mrs. Burns is asking the Welsh Assembly, which awarded the grant money, whether it is able to clawback any of the cash.

"I think there is a serious concern here that a company was able to win a sizeable chunk of public funding, but then disappear just 14 months later," said Mrs. Burns.

"I would like to know what safeguards there were, if any, against this happening and whether there were any contractual commitments as to how long the company would stay in Whitland."

SA Brains leased a site at the former creamery in Whitland and opened a £1 million distribution centre there in June 2007.

They were granted the £200,000 Property Development Grant to adapt the buildings for use as an office and storage depot in March 2008.

But they closed the depot last month after their business was restructured. 

Re-employment at their Swansea and Cardiff depots was offered to some staff, but its known that warehousemen and drivers were made redundant.

"I have now written to the Welsh Assembly asking them to look into the situation," said Mrs. Burns.

"It is worrying to think that this is a situation which could have been repeated all over Wales. I want to ensure that taxpayers are getting best value for money and it seems apparent that in this case, they did not."