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M4 relief road concerns raised by assembly committee M4 relief road concerns raised by assembly committee
(34 minutes 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". It followed a consultation over three route options but there has been anger a fourth put forward did not feature.
Mrs Hart has also been criticised by opposition parties and several Labour colleagues for the decision's timing. A report by the cross-party environment committee expresses "grave concerns" over the issue.
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 selected route of the new road, known as the the black 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. It was one of three new road options put out to public consultation last September but a fourth option from transport expert Prof Stuart Cole - the so-called blue route - was put forward three months later offering a cheaper and quicker alternative involving improving existing roads.
The committee has been taking evidence from different organisations and BBC Wales has now obtained a draft copy of its report. The blue route, which received support from various bodies and politicians, is understood to have been considered as part of the final decision making process.
Last September the government put forward three new road options out to public consultation. But there has been anger it did not form part of the official consultation and the environment committee's report has also questioned whether the three options had enough variations to meet planning regulations.
In December the transport expert Prof Stuart Cole put forward a fourth proposal - the so-called blue route - that would involve improving existing roads. With the black route, concerns about the impact on a local nature reserve have been made as well as calls for serious consideration of other options such as upgrading existing roads.
The committee's report highlights a series of concerns about the government's proposal: The committee looking into the matter had taken evidence from different organisations and BBC Wales has now obtained a draft copy of its report.
It highlights a series of concerns about the Welsh 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. But she refused and on Wednesday made her final decision to press ahead with the black route plans between Magor and Castleton.
Mrs Hart said it had been "carefully considered". She said the decision 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. But the committee has said in its report that if Mrs Hart could not answer the questions raised the consultation process may need to be restarted.
THE 'BLUE ROUTE' OPTIONTHE '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 AffairsSource: 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 'BLACK ROUTE' OPTION
• This would involve a new section of three-lane motorway being built between Junctions 23 (Magor) and 29 (Castleton) south of Newport
• It would include a connection for the M4, M48 and B4245.
• The route would have a crossing over the River Usk
• The infrastructure would include cycle and walking options
The report added: "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. And 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".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." Martin Evans, director at the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport in the UK said the Welsh government had chosen the "Rolls Royce option".
But he added: "Just because the Welsh government's been offered a loan it doesn't mean the Rolls Royce is a suitable car for us or it's affordable."
However Keith Jones, director of the Institution of Civil Engineers Wales Cymru, who gave evidence to the assembly committee supports the decision to use the black route.
He said: "I'm absolutely totally in favour. Wales demands, needs and requires full motorway access into Wales. It's wrong that we would be denied this. It's hindering economic growth."
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."