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M4 relief road 'to be financed by Severn Bridge tolls' M4 relief road 'to be financed by Severn Bridge tolls'
(about 1 hour later)
Construction of a £1bn M4 relief road in south Wales could be paid for by the Severn Bridge tolls, the Welsh government has said.Construction of a £1bn M4 relief road in south Wales could be paid for by the Severn Bridge tolls, the Welsh government has said.
Finance Minister Jane Hutt confirmed the plan to MPs on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.Finance Minister Jane Hutt confirmed the plan to MPs on the Welsh Affairs Select Committee.
She said negotiations with the UK government over the responsibility for the crossings were "very constructive".She said negotiations with the UK government over the responsibility for the crossings were "very constructive".
Ms Hutt said she also hoped the cost of tolls could be cut, particularly for lorries and regular users.Ms Hutt said she also hoped the cost of tolls could be cut, particularly for lorries and regular users.
The two bridges are due to return to public ownership in 2018.
However, UK ministers say "outstanding government costs" of £88m will then need be recouped, and they estimate that can be done within another two years.
Chancellor George Osborne said during his spending review statement in June that he would shortly give details of "impressive" M4 relief road plans around Newport.Chancellor George Osborne said during his spending review statement in June that he would shortly give details of "impressive" M4 relief road plans around Newport.
Transport Minister Edwina Hart then announced a public consultation on the road would begin in September although details of the method of funding had still not been confirmed.
'Goodwill''Goodwill'
Transport Minister Edwina Hart then announced a public consultation on the road would begin in September although details of the method of funding had not been confirmed.
Mrs Hart said at the time that "addressing the capacity and resilience issues on the M4 around Newport is the top transport challenge that we face in ensuring that Wales has an effective economic infrastructure which improves our competitiveness and access to jobs and services".Mrs Hart said at the time that "addressing the capacity and resilience issues on the M4 around Newport is the top transport challenge that we face in ensuring that Wales has an effective economic infrastructure which improves our competitiveness and access to jobs and services".
At a meeting of the committee at the Welsh assembly on Thursday, Ms Hutt said: "There is a recognition in the UK government of the importance of the crossings to Wales.At a meeting of the committee at the Welsh assembly on Thursday, Ms Hutt said: "There is a recognition in the UK government of the importance of the crossings to Wales.
"This is about the infrastructure of the UK and we need to sort it out urgently."This is about the infrastructure of the UK and we need to sort it out urgently.
"I would urge the UK government to treat this as a priority."I would urge the UK government to treat this as a priority.
"With goodwill we can succeed," she added."With goodwill we can succeed," she added.
Plans to ease congestion on the M4 in south Wales by building the relief road were unveiled by the Welsh government in 2004. However, UK Transport Minister Stephen Hammond told the Welsh affairs committee in June that no decision had been made over ownership or tolls but that any plans would have to benefit motorists from both Wales and England.
Proposals to ease congestion on the M4 in south Wales by building the relief road were unveiled by the Welsh government in 2004.
Five years later the then Labour-Plaid coalition in Cardiff Bay shelved the idea when the estimated cost rose to £1bn.Five years later the then Labour-Plaid coalition in Cardiff Bay shelved the idea when the estimated cost rose to £1bn.
Suggestions in April that an M4 relief road might itself be built and financed as a toll road was dismissed. Suggestions in April that an M4 relief road might be built and financed as a toll road were dismissed.