A NEW M4 relief road would have a “catastrophic” effect on Magor services under current plans, its owner has warned.

Simon Turl, chief executive of Roadchef which runs Magor services, has said access arrangements under the proposal mean the service station would be effectively cut off from the motorway.

Under current plans, Mr Turl said he fears for the future of Wales’ busiest service station and has warned of subsequent job losses of the 126 people employed.

Appearing at the public inquiry into the £1.1bn planned relief road around Newport yesterday, Mr Turl said he welcomed the addition of a slip road linking motorway users to the service station on the eastbound side of the motorway under the plans.

But he said the absence of access on the westbound side would limit access and put the future of the business in doubt, ultimately leading to closure.

In evidence submitted to the inquiry, Mr Turl estimated the new relief road would lead to an 80 per cent reduction in visitor numbers.

“The impact of the Welsh Government scheme on Magor services would be nothing short of catastrophic,” he states.

He told the inquiry the new relief road would hit the Welsh economy and place the safety of motorway users at risk.

“The absence of proper toilet and rest facilities for travellers using the newly built main motorway access route into Wales should and would raise serious questions for all of those responsible for its construction,” he stated in his evidence.

“The spectre of desperate road users relieving themselves along the hard shoulder of the newest motorway in the UK would be highly embarrassing and extremely dangerous.”

Stephen Bussell, responding on behalf of the Welsh Government, said the addition of an eastbound slip road would “significantly mitigate” the impact on Magor services.

He added that the amount of traffic using the new M4 is forecast to increase as a result of the relief road, which would increase the market for the service station. While accepting the plans may have a detrimental impact on Magor services, he said the relief road would bring overall economic benefits. He concluded that the future of the service station would be viable in its current location.