ARGUS readers will be aware of the latest controversy over the new M4 road planned in Gwent (October 9, Argus) after the Labour Welsh government admitted it was spending a staggering £20m on preparation works, including consultation, in this financial year.
What readers may not know is last year the Welsh government said its spending in 2015-16 would be £7m.
Given the opposition to the ‘black route’, it is disappointing the Welsh government is ignoring public opinion and speeding up spending even though the scheme is a long way for getting the go-ahead.
There is a cheaper alternative to blowing £1bn plus of public money on this folly that would be a much more cost effective way of dealing with the issue of congestion.
The Labour Welsh government should stop burying its head in the sand, admit it got it wrong and scrap this ill-thought out scheme now. 
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru AM
South Wales East
Planning over sale of foods 
WITH regard to Mr A Nutt’s letter (8.10.15) where he displays a complete misunderstanding of planning law.
The former Plaid-led administration refused to grant open A planning consent at Blackwood Gate, despite me taking the application to committee on two separate occasion only to be refused by the then Plaid dominated planning committee. 
Open A planning consent allows food to be sold, Aldi, Home Bargains and Pound Stretcher all sell food, had Mr Nutt and his beloved Plaid had their way planning consent would not have been changed and the retail park would have been bulldozed. 
Labour listened to the people campaigned and changed the planning consent to allow food to be sold, opening up the retail park to investment, which created jobs. 
Sadly Mr Nutt chooses to inhabit a fantasy world where reality and facts have no place.

Cllr Nigel Dix
Montclaire 
Blackwood