MORE THAN 20,000 people have now signed a petition calling for the planned M4 relief road to be scrapped.

In less than two weeks the number of signatures garnered by the petition has increased from 19,032 to 20,287.

The petition reads: "Please drop plans to construct the M4 motorway across the beautiful Gwent Levels and invest in public transport instead.

“The current plans to extend the M4 motorway will put otters, rare bees and wildflowers at risk. It would cut across the ‘Amazon Rainforest’ of Wales, the Gwent Levels, which is a haven for wildlife.

“Traffic around Newport needs to be improved but it would be better for Wales and the environment if the Welsh government invests in public transport instead. If we want to protect the environment for future generations we need to come up with alternatives to big polluting motorways."

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Co-chairman of the Campaign Against the Levels Motorway, Rob Hepworth, believes the petition suggests that there is "solid support" for rejecting the relief road.

“The petition to stop this destructive project has attracted over 20,000 signatures," he said. "We believe this gives a clear indication to Mark Drakeford that he will have solid public support for rejecting the M4 [relief road] on cost, environmental and transport policy grounds.”

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First Minister Mark Drakeford had previously said that, while he has received the report of the public inquiry into the scheme, he would not make a decision on the project until after the Newport West by-election, which took place last week.

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The year-long public inquiry allowed everyone to have their say, both for and against the scheme. The statutory orders decision making process is ongoing and the result will be announced in due course.”

The M4 Relief Road is a proposal which, if implemented, would see a new stretch of motorway between Magor and Castleton, bypassing the often-congested Brynglas Tunnels.

Click here to read the petition.