MOTORWAY service company Roadchef have held a discussion at the Senedd in Cardiff over plans they say would exclude Magor Services from the new M4 relief road.

Roadchef’s chief executive Simon Turl was joined yesterday by three colleagues from Magor Services for a drop-in session to discuss the route proposed for the relief road, and the potential implications for drivers and local jobs.

Speaking at the Assembly, Mr Turl said: “From the outset Roadchef has supported the development of a new M4 Relief Road for the benefit of South Wales and its residents.

“But we have serious concerns regarding the 4.4 mile proposed route to Magor Services from the new M4, which would effectively exclude the service area from the motorway.

“We believe this presents a serious safety issue for motorists, given that current highways guidance recommends a 28-mile gap between services.

“As well, people using motorway service areas want to use them a bit like a Lewis Hamilton pit stop.

“They want to get out, use the facilities, buy what they need, get back in the car and carry on with their journey.

“People won’t be able to do that with the relief road.”

Mr Turl also said that after Roadchef commissioned independent research, it showed that 68 per cent of drivers will be less likely to use Magor Services under the planned new route.

However, Mr Turl believes that once the relief road is in place, others won’t want to use it either.

He said: “There’s 68 per cent who said they wouldn’t come but I think as soon as people do the journey for themselves they won’t want to make the journey again.

“There are two million that stop at Magor Services each year, and the relief road will take that away.”

John Griffiths, Assembly Member for Newport East, who hosted Roadchef at the Assembly, said: “I was pleased to host this event and allow Magor Services from my constituency the opportunity to put their point of view direct to Assembly Members.”

Roadchef has been in ongoing discussions with the Welsh Government about the access route to Magor Services since 2015.

During this time, Roadchef has proposed a reconfigured Junction 23A which would allow Magor Services to remain on the route.

However, to date, the proposal has not been accepted by the Welsh Government and the Public Inquiry process is due to recommence in spring 2017.