THE owner and operator of Newport’s port will tell the Welsh Government it objects to plans to build part of the M4 relief road on its land.

Associated British Ports (ABP) said it is opposed to a compulsory purchase of about 87 acres which it has said would scythe their area in two.

That would be used to build a six-lane motorway bridge as part of the £1.2 billion project.

ABP said it supports about 3,000 jobs and helps pump in £186 million to the Welsh economy every year – and said the road would have “long-lasting, irreparable” consequences for the Port of Newport.

Director of ABP South Wales, Matthew Kennerley, said: “The loss of almost 20 per cent of our total land area would be a potentially devastating blow for the Port of Newport. The route corridor will cut right through the heart of the port, effectively severing it in two, and imposing a critical height restriction on access to the North Dock which would physically exclude around 50 per cent of vessels that currently utilise this area.

“We need to protect the port and ensure that it can continue to grow, creating more jobs and prosperity for local people. ABP has repeatedly expressed its serious concern at the impact on the port and we have been left with no option but to object formally to the proposed M4 route.

“The combination of the significant loss of port land, the restrictions that would be placed on vessels able to enter North Dock under the new motorway bridge and the wider disruption and limitation of the port’s operational capacity and flexibility add up to a very serious problem for the port and everyone who relies on it. It will also have a major impact on investment, development and expansion plans in the future.” 

The company said they thought “viable alternatives” could be found to the black route. That includes the so called blue route, which would upgrade the city’s Southern Distribution Road (SDR).

Roadchef, which owns Magor Services at junction 23a on the M4, has already told the Argus how the service station could be rendered commercially unviable because of the way it is set to be connected to the relief road. 

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The case for an M4 relief road is clear - the black route would significantly improve transport links and could bring commercial benefits.

"This route is the best solution to the transport issues around Newport taking into account all environmental, social and economic considerations.

“ABP’s commercial interests and views on this matter are well known.”