NATURAL Resources Wales (NRW) has submitted a formal objection to the M4 relief road plan, with a 95-page document listing their objections.

A decision over the M4 relief road is set to put to assembly members in a bid to ease the burden of traffic build up on the current stretch of motorway which surrounds Newport.

But a document written by the head of operations for NRW South-East Wales, John Hogg, calls it "essential" that any presence of protected species, and the extent that they may be affected by the proposed development, is established, before a decision on the proposal is made.

It comes as part of consultation into the so-called "black route", which has seen Gwent Wildlife Trust receive a Compulsory Purchase Order for a section of nature reserve at Magor Marsh near Magor.

The trust said it will take an area of wet grassland and ditch rich in rare wildlife that includes meadow thistle, otters, water voles and ancient pollarded willows - representative of many parts of the Levels expected to be compulsory purchased for the relief road development, much of which is nationally designated for its wildlife importance.

The plans for the M4 relief road were originally put forward in 1991 and consist of a six lane bridge and a 15-mile motorway to be built over the River Usk.

But NRW, the statutory body in charge of the Welsh environment, has said that a number of surveys taken previously have not given them enough information about how likely it is species will remain unaffected by the road, and have requested additional information.

The eight issues relating to the M4 relief road in the view of NRW are: protected species, designated sites, flood risk, Caldicot and Wentlooge Levels internal drainage and flood risk assets, re-use of Llanwern Steelworks lagoon material, Gwent Levels Registered Historic Landscape of Outstanding Interest in Wales, Wales coastal path and other landscape issues

The document adds: "From the information provided, we are unable to agree with the conclusions of the environmental statement.”

And in the view of Mr Hogg: “Adverse effects on European Protected Species and water voles can be avoided, adverse effects on the Gwent Levels Sites of Special Scientific Interest can be avoided; and it is contrary to Welsh Government’s Technical Advice Note (TAN) 15: Development and Flood Risk.”

The consultation ended earlier this month, with hopes work on the new motorway could start in 2018.

As the Argus previously reported, the owner of Wales’ busiest service station, which fears for its future in Monmouthshire if the £1.2 billion M4 relief road is built, has also formally objected to the plan, as has the owner and operator of Newport’s port.

A Welsh Government spokesman previously said: “We believe this is the best solution to transport issues around Newport and that it is vitally important to the economic prosperity of Wales.”