Cricket fans in Bath have been dealt a blow with the news that Somerset have shelved plans to make their traditional visit to the city in 2013.
The Cidermen announced last month that they would host their YB40 match with Yorkshire Vikings at the Recreation Ground on Thursday, August 15 but "significant concerns" over the pitch mean that the fixture will take place at Taunton instead.
Somerset chief executive Guy Lavender said: "This is very disappointing for everyone concerned and we apologise for the inconvenience that this change of venue will inevitably cause.
"Over the last few weeks we have undertaken a detailed pitch survey and inspection by both our head groundsman and the ECB's specialist pitch consultant. Their conclusions were unequivocal, identifying significant risks that the pitch would not be capable of hosting this important penultimate-round fixture.
"We felt that it was necessary to make a decision at this stage in order to minimise the disruption to those making plans to come from Yorkshire, our own supporters and our commercial partners in Bath.
"This is a great shame but the implications of playing a first-class fixture on a pitch that is not fit for purpose would be extremely damaging to the club."
Somerset have played matches in Bath for more than a century but were also forced to cancel last year's fixture after a wet summer prevented groundstaff from preparing a pitch, part of which is used for Premiership rugby for nine months of the year.
A T20 match proved to be a winner with the city's cricket enthusiasts in 2011 but recent years have seen a move away from the week-long festival that had previously been a feature of the summer sporting calendar in Bath.
But Lavender insisted: "We really enjoy playing a fixture at Bath and will be working very hard with both Bath Rugby and the Bath Area Committee in a bid to identify whether we can create a sustainable and low-risk solution for future years."
Michael Davis, the chairman of Somerset's Bath and Wilts Area Committee, added: "We are very disappointed that Somerset County Cricket Club has had to make this decision.
"The England & Wales Cricket Board has inspected and advised Somerset against playing the fixture this year at Bath and we must respect the decision under these circumstances, with all the potential consequences if things did not go well.
"We are pleased that Somerset has again confirmed its long term intention to play at Bath. We have a lot of work to do locally to ensure that we have a venue in which everyone can have confidence. In our view, this has got to be the Rec. Looking forward to the completion of whatever Rugby Club development takes place, there is a huge potential for first class cricket on the Rec, both in terms of spectator capacity and the natural beauty of the surroundings."
Those who have already purchased tickets for the fixture will be contacted shortly by post and will be given the option to either transfer them to the rearranged match at the County Ground or have a full refund.
For further information please contact Somerset's commercial team on 0845 337 1875.
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