Information on road works from NPT Council

We are scheduled to be carrying out Surface Dressing Carriageway works on the B4242 Neath Road, Abergarwed with the programme expected to commence on the 01.08.2020 for four days pending weather and plant breakdowns.

The first two days 01.08.2020 – 02.08.2020 will consist of applying the first coat of bitumen and chippings, after an initial sweep the contractor will return to apply the ‘seal’ part of the treatment on the 05.08 & 06.08 which is an emulsion spray that goes onto the first coat to lock in the chippings, this is usually a very fast process and is usually drivable on after around 30 minutes (weather temperature dependent).

The works will be under stop/go traffic management and delays should be expected/anticipate.

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The corona virus lockdown hasn’t been a pleasure as I am sure we all agree but just because adversity comes our way it hasn’t stopped Resolven making the best of a bad thing. So many negatives have dominated our way of living and loving life it’s sometimes been difficult to see a silver lining but there have been many. Community spirit came to the fore when so many local residents offered their help to those who were shielding and staying home as recommended — doing shopping, delivering essential supplies and generally supporting anyone who needed it. This has been prevalent throughout and that includes the local businesses that kept supplies stocked and did doorstep deliveries to so many households. Flour was in short supply mainly because the bakers among us made treats for NHS and keyworkers as well as for friends and neighbours. Where the taste buds benefitted from such delights, the waistlines have all probably suffered but for good reason..

 A Facebook page connected over 300 likeminded people who were always there to provide any help required and was a great success. The support shown towards the NHS and careworkers was inspiring and the clapping on the doorsteps each Thursday was quite astounding. We lit up windows with blue lights, decorated our windows with rainbows and a feeling of unity was all around.

There were moments of negativity and frustration and a lot of ‘fed up’ days but as a whole Resolven has stepped up and stayed in and stayed safe. The virus was kept at bay locally with very few reported cases and we felt both relieved and fortunate.

Working from home was a new experience for those able to comply and the word ‘keyworkers ‘ showed who it was keep the country moving and working .

Home schooling gave us all a new perspective on how teachers should be applauded and appreciated.

The silver linings had to be looked for but they were there. The internet played a huge part in keeping us all connected not only to our nearest and dearest but there were quizzes, music concerts from homes, online dance classes, video exercises, church and chapel services, video group chats and lots of photos through social media outlets that kept everyone up to date and most of the time amused with what was going on indoors and in gardens all over the village and new friendships were formed.

Walking became the main pastime and it reminded us of how blessed we are to live in an area that offers so many walking and cycling opportunities, with beautiful scenery. the lack of traffic and the sudden slowing down of life gave us chance to appreciate our surroundings in a way we hadn’t had the chance to for years .

Street parties with social distancing were organised for the 75^th anniversary of VE Day where it was possible to party outdoors keeping social distancing and where that wasn’t possible family garden parties in the glorious sunshine. Flags and bunting decorated the whole village

Ynysfawr avenue continued the VE day success with street bingo and even organised live music to keep up moral, and Ynysfach Avenue followed suit.

Birthdays were celebrated in gardens and via zoom conference calls as were wedding anniversaries so nobody missed a celebration.

As the weeks ticked by it stepped up a notch. The ukulele band known as the Indonesian Architects who practice at the Welfare Hall decided it was time to go on tour and played on the streets of Resolven to much acclaim and continue to do so when the weather permits.

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Resolven AFC ordered new training tops with NHS logo that raised money for NHS charities doing their bit to show their support of the Health Service.

The carnival was cancelled but the ladies from the Welfare repeated last years successful painted rocks and created a rock hunt that children could search for on walks with their parents to make a stone snake on school road for all to view . So far there are over a 100 stones in the snake and its still forming. Mr. Morgan the headmaster of ynysfach primary has generously agreed to display the rocks on school property when they reopen in September.

Local crafter Amanda Williams has created a magical fairy trail sited on the canal path that has enthralled not only so many little ones but their parents too and will hopefully be a lasting attraction that can be enjoyed by both locals and visitors to the wonderful tourist area that is the Neath Tennant canal. This in turn will encourage people to take the opportunity to hire canoes and visit Ty banc for ice cream or a coffee whilst enjoying the wonderful scenery on offer.

As lockdown is coming to a gradual close, the rugby club have opened their fields and club so we can begin to socialise slowly and safely once again and even though social distancing is still important its giving us the opportunity to come out of lockdown and begin to meet up again be together a bit more giving us a taste of the ‘new normal’ we all speak about.

From the very start Resolven community council and our NPTC councillor Dean Lewis have been on hand to provide regular information and support to all going above and beyond their normal remit answering the call whenever it was needed  for which we can all be grateful .

I am sure there was much more that could be mentioned so please send us your lockdown stories so we can share the smiles.

REPORT by DIANE SIMS

Our RDN photographer, Mike Davies, took these “before and after ” pictures of Clun Primary School-the latest image this week during demolition

The school opened it’s gates in1896 and the last home-time bell was rung there in July 2015. It was known as Clyne school until the name was changed to Clun Primary school in 1983.

Clos yr Ysgol, a housing development for 2, 3 bedroom houses and bungalows is being built on the site of the old school

All the pupils on their last day at a much loved school

C MESSAGE 14 – GENESIS 8:1-5 28/06/20

I am sure all of us know the story of Noah’s ark and the flood. God told Noah to build an ark and to take his family and all types of animals into the ark because He was going to flood the earth. After many days of torrential rain the opening words in chapter 8 are ‘but God remembered Noah’. Noah and his family were in the ark for many weeks and they did not know what sort of world they would find once the deluge was over. For sure he must have thought to himself it will be a different world. They did not know where he ark was going to land, they did not know what they would find once they stepped out of the ark. What about visiting friends and families?  What about their houses? What about?? This ‘what about’ must have reoccurred to him again and again.  As much as Noah tried to figure things out one thing he knew for sure ‘God had already figured all of them out. Talking to people, everybody is trying to imagine how life will be after all of this Covid19 is over. Of course like everybody else, my imagination runs wild, however even though I do not know what is ahead, I know who does – God.

When the bible tells us God remembered Noah, it does not mean that God had a lapse of mind and suddenly it occurred to Him that Noah was in the ark. It means the time was right for Him to allow Noah and his family and all the animals to come out from the ark. God started working things out for Noah, and all of those with him in the ark to come out and face a new reality. Can you see? God understands everything about ‘lockdown’. Noah was locked down in an ark, Joseph in a prison in Egypt, David and his men in a cave when running from Saul, Daniel in the lions’ den, Lazarus in a tomb, Paul in a prison in Rome etc. Many great servants of God have been in lockdown. God was with all of them all the time. It is no time to lose heart or to despair – because God is with us in this lockdown.

I can reassure you that God has not forgotten about you or about your situation. God remembered Noah and He remembers you. I am not a very nostalgic person and for sure we cannot live in the past or in the future. Nonetheless it is  healthy for us to recall in our minds again and again the times God has rescued us in the past and how He changed everything around. For sure God will make a way where there seems to be no way. We know the story of the crossing of the Red Sea – the Israelites could not go anywhere and God made a way where there seemed to be no way.

We are the people of God, we belong to Him, we are in His mind, God has not forgotten us. At the present moment I am reading a book which Richard Preedy gave me. It is about the history of Christianity. There were times when things were truly desperate and then ‘God remembered His people’. It is a wonderful thing to have faith at a time such is this, we know what we know, od remembers us. In the same way that he rescued Noah and his family, God will rescue us. We are not going through life just expecting that after death we will see Him. Of course we have great expectations once our lives upon this earth are over, however till then, we the people of God are going to see Him rescuing us many times over ,because He remembers us.

Noah and his family were in the ark for many weeks and they did not have a satnav, or the news on the TV, or could listen to the radio, or go for a walk, they did not know where they were going to end up but they knew that God was with them. It is so wonderful to know that God is with us, and He will sustain us and He will see us through. We need to be careful not to allow the news we hear on the TV and other means of communication to deafen God’s voice. Please be well informed, but in the midst of such great uncertainty it is the voice of God which will guide us, and reassure us, ‘it is ok’. He says – I know where and how you are – I remember you’.

Noah built the ark, but the captain of it was God. The ark was floating aloof for many days and nights, it was drifting away, Noah had never been in a boat before. The ark was just floating, it did not have the mechanism necessary to be piloted. It did not have a steering wheel or a rudder, it was just floating and floating, but God knew where He was taking it. At the moment it could well be you find yourself a bit at lost, and everything you knew and gave you a sense of security and belonging is not there anymore. You feel like you are just floating on the ocean of life, well, Noah has been there and God had His eye on Noah and his family all the time. God remembered Noah and God remembers you. He will help you, landing safely. Some times you get upset because people had forgotten about you and let you down – well the good news is ‘God remembers you’. God bless

PS. Many thanks to all of those who got involved with “24 Hours of Prayers for the Nations”, it went very well and we were able of covering the 195 nations of the world. We had people from South Korea, Kenya, Nigeria, UK, Brazil, New Zealand, America praying with us. We just did not pray for the nations we pray with the nations. Keep praying at least once a week for the nations you prayed for last weekend.

Pastor Fortunato Santos

Welsh Government rules and restrictions apply.

BOOKINGS ONLY PLEASE

Bowling Green opening hours

2pm – 9pm

Please Use your Own equipment

To book a rink please contact

Simon Ace

Tel. No.07954 132501

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BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL

RE Borrow pit lakes (2 ponds in valley)

Hi,

I’m an angler on the Neath and Dulais Angling club and wondered if you had any photos of the construction/excavation of the lakes that you could share with me and pass on to the club. With it being such deep water it  would be amazing to see how they looked before they were filled

Thanks for your time reading this.

Regards 

Nick Rapado

If you can help Nick contact us on link below

am@resolvendistrictnews.co.uk

Social Distancing 50th Birthday Party for Robert Thomas

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Many thanks to Leighton Lloyd for some photographs.

Others taken by Anita Morgan & Hugh Lewis