A VETERAN of the local sports scene who has been visiting Ammanford's Recreation Ground for the best part of half a century has blasted major redevelopment work at the ground, branding it a complete "waste of money".

Ken Rainford, of Pantyffynnon Road, claims that work to improve the playing surface has actually left it in a worse state than ever before.

He added that more games are now being called off due to a waterlogged pitch - one of the main reasons for carrying out the work in the first place - than previously.

"The Rec has had a vast amount of money spent on drainage and re-seeding over the past nine months, and it is my opinion - and that of many local sportsmen - that the work was a waste of public money," said Mr Rainford, a regular visitor to the ground over the last 45 years both as a player and an official with local football teams.

"Whenever we have heavy rain, pools of water form on the ground and the playing surface becomes thick with several inches of mud.

"This never happened before the work was done, except for when rugby was played in front of the old stand.

"The top end of the ground has always had good drainage, but now games are often called off."

He added: "The bottom end needed doing, but now it is worse than before.

"It would have been better if some of this money had been spent on better conditions for spectators, such as covered standing areas or a few seats."

Carmarthenshire Council's senior urban parks officer Gerwyn Thomas said: "The work carried out to the pitches at the Ammanford Recreation Ground was carried out in conjunction with the development being carried out by the Ammanford Sports Association.

"The drainage to the pitches was deemed to be necessary taking into account the anticipated additional future use.

"It is still too early to assess as the efficacy of the work already carried out as the pitches ideally need a period of rest in order for the maximum benefit to be achieved.

"After the season closes the pitches will then be reassessed."