THE row over whether Ammanford cricket club should be allowed to turn one of Ammanford Park’s four tennis courts into a pair of practice nets has flared up again.

The cricketers had argued that the tennis courts were under-used and that practice facilities were essential to their club’s future development.

But a 400-name petition was drawn up opposing the move with some residents pointing out that the courts had been donated by the Miners Welfare back in 1947.

While council officers backed the cricket club, the issue is now again back in the balance after councillors insisted on a site visit af ter taking exception to a report which came before Carmarthenshire County Council’s planning committee last week.

Writing in his capacity as trustee and secretary of Ammanford Miners Welfare, Anthony Jones said the Welfare, residents and some town councillors were opposed to the planned location of the nets.

In an e-mail he asked: “Why does the report make no mention of the views expressed?”

Cllr Terry Davies added: “I’m disappointed to hear of Ammanford people’s complaints about this and the fact there’s no reflection of that in this report.

"I’m also disappointed that we have only been given this information at the last minute.”

While residents fighting the move insist the courts are used all year for tennis and other ball games, the council maintain these could be accommodated on the remaining three courts.

Officers say the fencing and protective netting covering the batting area would make it “highly unlikely” that any cricket ball would cause harm to other park users.

Mr Jones, the committee chairman who did not attend Thursday’s meeting, said afterwards he was “taken aback” that the report had not reflected the views of the community.

“I find that very strange indeed,” he added.