Residents of a Monmouthshire hamlet believe that it could be “swamped” if the Welsh Government’s plans for an M4

The public inquiry in Newport heard that a “green route”, proposed by villagers from Llanfihangel Rogiet, near Caldicot, would be cheaper and have less of an environmental impact than the Welsh Government-backed “black route”.

The green route, one of 22 alternative routes to be proposed, was presented by long-time residents of the area Mike and Liz Smith, and Graham and Jennifer Wynton.

Mr Smith, a former deputy leader of Monmouthshire County Council, led the objections and told the inquiry that there “is no logic” to the “complex” plans to build a new Junction 23 further along the M4.

He also said that the black route would see a significant amount of land being taken from the area, causing a “direct impact” on the Llanfihangel Rogiet Conservation Area and the visual aspects of residents in Magor, Undy and Rogiet.

The green route involves a small junction being placed on the M48 and B4245 near Rogiet, utilising what Mr Smith called a "very much under-used road" in the M48.

The route would then diverge, turning south at Wilcrick past Bishton and Llandevenny before turning west at Llanwern Steelworks and rejoining the route around Newport as proposed by the black route.

The Welsh Government claims the green route would be £51 million more expensive than their scheme, which proposes a new six-lane motorway running south of Newport between Junction 23A at Magor to Junction 29 at Castleton.

But they have conceded that it would meet nine of its scheme objectives.

Summing up, Mr Smith told the inquiry: "We can move but you can’t change history and you can’t move buildings but you can take a motorway away from the conservation area to somewhere else.

"Don’t move the problem from Magor to Llanfihangel Rogiet and onto our doorstep."

Concerns over noise and air pollution were also raised by the people of Llandevenny, another small hamlet made up of 14 houses found along the A4810 near the southern part of Magor.

Tim Broome, speaking on behalf of residents, referred to the fact that the Welsh Government had previously stated that there would be "noise detriment" to individual properties and that "increases in air pollutants are predicted".

But suggestions of an acoustic barrier built alongside the proposed relief road near Llandevenny had been dismissed as "unwarranted".

Mr Broome told the inquiry that residents feel that their concerns "had not warranted any consideration" due to its small size, claiming there was a "lack of respect".

He said: "The Welsh Government should not discriminate against a minority community because there are only a small number of properties and businesses.

"Our health, quality of life and interests should be respected as much as any community such as Magor and elsewhere.

"Such comments as ‘Its only fourteen houses’ seems to confirm the manner in which some may view our small hamlet and we can be over-looked as an area of little or no consequence."