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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| M4 relief road concerns raised by assembly committee | M4 relief road concerns raised by assembly committee |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Serious questions about the Welsh government's decision to build a £1bn M4 relief road around Newport have been raised by an assembly committee in a report due to be published next week. | Serious questions about the Welsh government's decision to build a £1bn M4 relief road around Newport have been raised by an assembly committee in a report due to be published next week. |
| Transport Minister Edwina Hart gave the project the go-ahead on Wednesday. | Transport Minister Edwina Hart gave the project the go-ahead on Wednesday. |
| However, a report by the cross-party environment committee expresses "grave concerns". | However, a report by the cross-party environment committee expresses "grave concerns". |
| Mrs Hart has also been criticised by opposition parties and several Labour colleagues for the decision's timing. | Mrs Hart has also been criticised by opposition parties and several Labour colleagues for the decision's timing. |
| The planned route will run between Junctions 23 and 29 and include a new bridge and is seen by some as the answer to crippling traffic congestion into south Wales. | The planned route will run between Junctions 23 and 29 and include a new bridge and is seen by some as the answer to crippling traffic congestion into south Wales. |
| But there have been concerns about the impact on a local nature reserve, as well as calls for serious consideration of other options such as upgrading existing roads. | But there have been concerns about the impact on a local nature reserve, as well as calls for serious consideration of other options such as upgrading existing roads. |
| The committee has been taking evidence from different organisations and BBC Wales has now obtained a draft copy of its report. | The committee has been taking evidence from different organisations and BBC Wales has now obtained a draft copy of its report. |
| Last September the government put forward three new road options out to public consultation. | Last September the government put forward three new road options out to public consultation. |
| In December the transport expert Prof Stuart Cole put forward a fourth proposal - the so-called blue route - that would involve improving existing roads. | In December the transport expert Prof Stuart Cole put forward a fourth proposal - the so-called blue route - that would involve improving existing roads. |
| The committee's report highlights a series of concerns about the government's proposal: | The committee's report highlights a series of concerns about the government's proposal: |
| In June, the committee chair Alun Ffred Jones wrote to Mrs Hart asking her to answer a series of questions the committee had about the proposals. | In June, the committee chair Alun Ffred Jones wrote to Mrs Hart asking her to answer a series of questions the committee had about the proposals. |
| She refused to do that and has now made her final decision to press ahead with the black route plans between Magor and Castleton. | She refused to do that and has now made her final decision to press ahead with the black route plans between Magor and Castleton. |
| Mrs Hart said it had been "carefully considered". | Mrs Hart said it had been "carefully considered". |
| The committee says that if she could not answer the questions it raises, the consultation process may need to be restarted. | The committee says that if she could not answer the questions it raises, the consultation process may need to be restarted. |
| THE 'BLUE ROUTE' OPTION | THE 'BLUE ROUTE' OPTION |
| • This would involve an upgrade of the A48 Newport Southern Distributor Road (SDR) and the former steelworks road | • This would involve an upgrade of the A48 Newport Southern Distributor Road (SDR) and the former steelworks road |
| • Roads would be re-constructed as a two-lane, dual carriageway at motorway or expressway standard | • Roads would be re-constructed as a two-lane, dual carriageway at motorway or expressway standard |
| • It would be widened to a three-lane motorway in future if needed | • It would be widened to a three-lane motorway in future if needed |
| • The route would follow a line between the Magor Junction 23A to the east of Newport to Tredegar Park Junction 28 to the west of the city | • The route would follow a line between the Magor Junction 23A to the east of Newport to Tredegar Park Junction 28 to the west of the city |
| Source: Institute of Welsh Affairs | Source: Institute of Welsh Affairs |
| The report concludes: "It is difficult to conclude on the basis of current information that a convincing case for the long-term value for money of this potential investment has yet been made." | The report concludes: "It is difficult to conclude on the basis of current information that a convincing case for the long-term value for money of this potential investment has yet been made." |
| After Wednesday's announcement, four Labour AMs - Mick Antoniw, Julie Morgan, Julie James and Jenny Rathbone - criticised the decision on environmental grounds and because of its timing. | After Wednesday's announcement, four Labour AMs - Mick Antoniw, Julie Morgan, Julie James and Jenny Rathbone - criticised the decision on environmental grounds and because of its timing. |
| Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth said Mrs Hart had shown "sheer contempt" for the environment committee. | Plaid Cymru AM Rhun ap Iorwerth said Mrs Hart had shown "sheer contempt" for the environment committee. |
| Liberal Democrat economy spokeswoman Eluned Parrott called the decision a "huge mistake". | |
| And Shadow Transport Minister Byron Davies gave the announcement a qualified welcome but said it failed to take environmental concerns into account or provide relevant detail. | And Shadow Transport Minister Byron Davies gave the announcement a qualified welcome but said it failed to take environmental concerns into account or provide relevant detail. |
| Responding to the report seen by BBC Wales, a spokesperson for the Welsh government said: "We do not comment on leaked documents. The Minister will read the report when it is published next week." | Responding to the report seen by BBC Wales, a spokesperson for the Welsh government said: "We do not comment on leaked documents. The Minister will read the report when it is published next week." |