FURTHER work into the £1 billion M4 relief road that will cut through Newport and Monmouthshire must be done to ensure a service station’s future and safeguard 125 jobs, its owner has said.

Roadchef, which has run Magor Services since August 2011, said they are in ongoing discussions with the Welsh Government to guarantee the station is not missed off any new proposed route.

Under the Welsh Government’s current plans junctions 23 to 29 on the M4 would be declassified and become a trunk road. The service station currently stands to be missed off both the remodelled junction 23a and the new relief road, known as the black route.

That would leave a 52-mile gap between service stations on the M4 from Leigh Delamere in Chippenham to Cardiff Gate. Under Department for Transport guidance the distance between service areas on motorways should be no more than 28 miles.

Work on the motorway is scheduled to start in two years and could finish by 2021.

Roadchef’s chief executive Simon Turl said: “We’ve been in ongoing discussions with the Welsh Government for a number of months regarding access to Magor motorway service area from the proposed M4 relief road. At present, the proposed route would remove access to the service station, leaving a 50 mile gap between the remaining service areas, almost twice the maximum distance recommended. This clearly has serious implications for road safety and motorists’ experience.

“The £1 billion M4 relief road is a vitally important infrastructure project for Wales and Roadchef is keen to see it delivered successfully. We have invested significantly at Magor over the last few years, enhancing the offering and creating additional jobs. We will continue our dialogue with the Welsh Government and are hopeful we can reach a positive solution that is good for motorists, our employees, and the wider South Wales economy.”

Magor councillor Frances Taylor, who is opposed to the black route and the relief road plan, said she was worried that the jobs could be lost if the Welsh Government safeguard the service station.

She said: “I am concerned about two things. I am concerned that this is indicative of Welsh Government’s lack of planning and I am obviously concerned with the implication of people’s jobs.”

A Welsh Government spokeswoman said: “This project is of vital importance to the economic prosperity of Wales and has strong backing from Welsh businesses. It would improve safety and accessibility for people, Welsh goods and services to international markets by addressing transport issues on one of the main gateways into Wales.

“We are aware of Roadchef’s specific concerns and are in discussion with the company. As is standard when considering an infrastructure project of this size and type, work is required to assess how it could be built and what safety requirements are needed.”