Light at the End of the Tunnel for Troubled Valleys Club

A £200,000 sports development for a Swansea Valley village, has moved a step closer after a meeting called by local AM Gwenda Thomas.

Local league side Ynysmeudwy AFC plans to develop a multi-purpose sports facility to provide both a training pitch for the club and a venue for community sports. The proposals have been stymied for some time by problems with planning permission, bio-diversity compliance and flood plain issues.

After the meeting, which brought together Council planning bosses, Environment Agency officers, Community Councillors and the club’s committee, new plans are being developed which will be put in for planning permission in the near future.

Gwenda said: “I’m really glad we appear to have got past the stalemate that had developed around the clubs plans. Ynysmeudwy AFC has a really hard working committee that has done wonders for their local community.”

Club Chair Huw Davies said: “This new development will provide a junior playing field as well giving local children a safe area to play and pursue all types of sport.”

Town councillor and committee member Brian Lewis said, “Due to the continued hard work and commitment of the coach Nigel Rees and Manager Kevin Williams, we now have a good chance of promotion in the Neath and District League from Division One to the Premier Division. Therefore having improved facilities and a real development action plan will make a huge difference to the club and the wider community.”

This development comes after a difficult year for village club in which their club house was burgled twice causing £1000s worth of damage.