T20 cricket not banned (From Penarth Times)

T20 cricket not banned

7:50am Thursday 9th August 2012 in Letters

I WONDER if I may be allowed to correct a number of inaccuracies in Sully Centurions’ claims that Sully Community Council prevented them from holding a 20/20 cricket finals day at Sully’s Burnham Avenue ground (Penarth Times, August 2).

Far from the current community council stepping in to ban the proposed finals day, there is a standing restriction due to safety fears on 20/20 cricket matches being played at this location due to the size limits of the available playing area and proximity of the boundaries to the public footpath on one side, and residents’ houses on the other.

Ordinary league matches remain unaffected by the restriction.

The restriction was imposed by the previous council in 2011 after representation from neighbouring residents due to safety concerns over the effect of a competition that by its very nature encourages an increase in boundary attempts from batsmen who rank among the best in South Wales. The Centurions chairman had sent a written assurance to all neighbouring residents in November 2011 informing them that the club would not attempt to play 20/20 cricket at the ground.

The simple fact is that Sully Centurions entered a competition that they knew they were unable to host in the event of reaching the final, and had already rearranged one previous round to Port Talbot to reflect their awareness of the existing restriction on ground use.

Having reached the final which would involve some of the hardest-hitting batsmen from four counties displaying their skills in the 20/20 format, the Centurions made a last-minute request to the community council to overturn the existing restriction.

An urgent meeting of the council was held in order to consider a possible exemption but the Centurions representative on the community council, David Sylvester, gave written notice that he considers the meeting and any decision made at that time to be illegal due to insufficient public notice being given, thus removing any possibility of temporary one-off permission being granted if it had been deemed applicable.

I hope that this helps to clarify matters, and express my disappointment as a keen sportsman myself at unfounded accusations aimed at a community council which is extremely proud of all the sports clubs competing in Sully.

Cllr Kevin Mahoney Sully Community Council