M4 Relief Road

The absolute folly of the Welsh Government in wanting to press ahead with the £1bn M4 Relief Road has been highlighted once again.

In an interview, Matthew Kennerley, director of Associated British Ports, warned that £30m of investment at Newport docks was at risk along with a major threat to jobs.

This was something that was stressed to me when I met Mr Kennerley last month. He told me that £10m had been invested in the port over the past 18 months and 3,000 jobs, directly and indirectly, were dependent on the success of Newport docks. We cannot allow that to be jeopardised by this white elephant.

A proposed bridge could potentially prevent about 60 per cent of ships from entering the north docks, making a kilometre of quayside redundant.

During First Minister’s questions last week, I again raised the importance of Newport Docks as a very important player in the south-east Wales economy. It handles 1.85 million tonnes of goods a year worth £186m annually to the Welsh economy.

The First Minister reiterated that there were discussions about the height of the proposed bridge to ensure access for ships. Even if this happens it is certain to push up the already enormous cost of the relief road – and for what.

The £1bn quoted is just a ball park figure – it is likely to be considerably more if we get to the stage of inviting contracts.

The Welsh Government is refusing to listen. It wants to suck huge amounts of spending into one road scheme. There is a much cheaper alternative available at around one-third of the cost and that means more money available for strategic transport schemes away from the M4 corridor.

It will be no point people across the length and breadth of Wales lobbying for vitally needed schemes in their areas because a vast amount of funding will be swallowed up by the M4 relief road.

Next year’s Assembly elections will provide an opportunity for people in the south-east to give their verdict on these Labour government proposals. If Labour is returned in government they seem certain to press ahead with this scheme whatever the cost. If they are not, then the alternatives can be properly considered.

I’ve not even mentioned the environmental damage to the Gwent Levels this scheme would cause. It is simply bad for the environment, bad for Newport docks and bad for jobs.