SERIOUS questions over the process by which a decision was reached on a preferred route for an M4 Relief Road around Newport remain unanswered, AMs claimed yesterday.

Members of the Assembly's environment and sustainability committee used a Senedd debate on their report into the issue to describe how attempts to gather information and views from transport minister Edwina Hart were frustrated by her refusal to give evidence.

And one - Antoinette Sandbach AM - told Ms Hart: "I do not believe that at present you have the support of the public for this project."

Ms Hart in turn said she was unable to appear before the committee due to "statutory decision making processes."

The committee's inquiry focused on the process rather than on the merits of particular options for a relief road.

Its chairman Alun Ffred Jones AM said there are "serious questions remaining unanswered" as to whether consultation process met European regulations, and added that many witnesses who did give evidence had noted such concerns, notably the environmental agency Natural Resources Wales.

The committee and witnesses were also concerned, he said, that the impact on traffic of public transport and railway electrification proposals, and especially the development of a South Wales Metro system had not been taken into account.

He said issues such as the cost and the source of funding remain "shrouded in uncertainty."

"It is difficult to conclude on basis of current information that a convincing case has been made," he said.

Committee member Mick Antoniw AM said evidence indicates that predictions on traffic increases are "quite out of date" and he criticised the Confederation of British Industry (CBI) in Wales for failing to attend and give evidence despite being approached six times.

"Yet it (the CBI) regularly says how important such a relief road is," he said.

Ms Sandbach said Ms Hart's non-attendance at evidence sessions was "very disappointing" as there are "many, many concerns."

She highlighted consultation processes and environmental considerations, the importance of the latter making it "important that the Welsh Government ensured it was above reproach over consultation.

"I think there is a lack of public confidence in the way the process has been handled," she said.

"Presently I do not feel that you (Ms Hart) have been prepared to be transparent or open or to be scrutinised properly on the decision making thus far."

Also highlighting concerns over traffic data and the impact of rail electrification and the South Wales Metro, she concluded: "I do not believe at present you have the support of the public for this project."

Newport East AM John Griffiths again highlighted his opposition to a relief road irrespective of the route, preferring instead public transport solutions and a "carrot and stick" approach to help change motoring habits and use of the M4.

Ms Hart said she had been unable to give evidence at the time of the inquiry as "statutory decision-making processes in relation to major highways schemes are very strict."

She stressed the project will now be subject to a public inquiry and confirmed that the Welsh Government is opposing environmental group Friends of the Earth's application for a judicial review of the scheme.