Pressure grows for M4 relief road

2:50pm Wednesday 20th August 2008

A TRANSPORT group backing controversial plans to build a new M4 relief road are pushing for construction to start sooner rather than later.

South East Wales Transport Alliance (Sewta) have announced in a recent transport plan that they endorse the idea of encouraging early construction of the new M4 south of Newport.

Planning manager Christian Schmidt said: “We are waiting for the Assembly to finalise the plans and we are hope that they take account of our views and the impact on local roads.”

The M4 relief road would run from Magor to Castleton through the Llanwern steelworks site over the Usk and Caldicot and Wentloog Levels.

But environmentalists have attacked the plans - and Sewta's support for them.

Sorrel Jones, conservation officer for Gwent Wildlife Trust and secretary for the campaign against the levels motorway, said she was disappointed by Sewta’s endorsement of early construction.

She said the M4 relief road is totally contrary to the National Assembly’s commitments to reduce climate change and to encourage public transport and car sharing.

She added that plans to build more motorway will put more cars on the road.

But Sewta denies they are in favour of increasing the national motorway capacity - despite their support of the M4 relief road.

Ms Jones added that the road would pollute the entire reens system which contains 144 species of rare invertebrates.

She described the levels as Wales’ rainforest and says it is one of the most diverse habitats in the country.

Environmentalists say the road would cause substantial damage to wildlife on the Gwent Levels.

They say the road, which runs through six sites of special scientific interest, could threaten local wildlife, including otters.

But supporters of the road say it is needed to relieve the city of the gridlock caused whenever an incident requires the current M4 to be shut - putting the breaks on potential growth in Gwent.

They say the region is over-reliant on the M4 which acts as a local bypass as well as a European trade route.

This week's front pages