The Welsh Government’s decision announced yesterday (Wednesday 16 July) to plough ahead with plans to build a M4 Relief road to the South of Newport (Black Route), which would cut right through the heart of the Gwent Levels is outrageous.
We are deeply shocked by this announcement which makes a mockery of the Welsh Government’s commitment to Sustainable Development. A broad coalition of interest groups from the transport, business and environmental community urged the Welsh Government to look at sustainable alternatives but the announcement yesterday discounted all other options including the Blue Route option, which appeared to meet the needs of nature as well as the economy.
The Gwent Levels is a fragile ecosystem and unique historic landscape. It is home to charismatic wildlife including water voles, otters, an array of birds and one of the UKs rarest bumblebees the shrill carder bee. Building the motorway would cause irreversible damage to the wildlife there and destruct the centuries old wetland network. This decision directly contradicts the Welsh Government’s aim to develop a sustainable Wales for future generations as outlined in their Future Generations Bill published last week.
What happens next...?
The announcement comes just days before the Welsh Assembly’s Environment & Sustainability Committee are due to report their findings of their inquiry into the M4. We can expect this report to be published next week now and the Minister responsible (Edwina Hart) will have to respond to the inquiries findings following summer recess.
Over the coming days we will be examining the plan for the new road and additional documents published by the Welsh Government. We will continue to campaign against the black route alongside the Campaign Against the Levels Motorway (CALM).