Closing junctions on the M4 in Newport would be a ‘disaster’ according to Jessica Morden MP, as she urged residents to resit the plans.
The Welsh Government has refused to rule out closing junctions on the M4 in Newport, raising concerns about potential impacts on surrounding areas and the wider economy.
Mark Hooper, Plaid Cymru's recently appointed Deputy Minister for Transport, told the chamber that closing some junctions remains “on the table” as part of ongoing work to address congestion, including along the M4 corridor.
The longstanding dispute follows the cancellation of the M4 relief road in 2019, after more than £150 million had already been spent on preparatory work.
These latest plans have been met with Hugh opposition and Newport East MP Jessica Morden has urged residents to sign a petition opposing them.
Posting on Facebook Mrs Modern said: “It would be an absolute disaster for Lliswerry if Plaid shut junctions and divert traffic to the SDR. Newport Labour will resist any moves by the new Plaid government to do this to Lliswerry. “
Cllr Dimitri Batrouni, who leads Newport City Council and its Labour group, warned against “shifting the burden onto local neighbourhoods” by reducing local access to the M4.
Batrouni said: “I want to make it clear our opposition to any motorway junction closures and diversion of significant volumes of M4 traffic”, Cllr Batrouni told the Local Democracy Reporting Service – adding that “even when Welsh Labour were in power, I backed the Black Route because of this reason.'
“These roads are already heavily congested at peak times,” he added. “Redirecting additional motorway traffic through residential areas would worsen congestion, increase pollution, and place even greater pressure on local infrastructure and communities.
"Local resident Paul Harris criticised Labour for cancelling the M4 relief project and posted on Facebook:” Welsh Labour spent a fortune on planning the M4 Relief Road and went as far as buying up properties, only for the great Mark Drakeford to cancel it.
“We still want and need it. Labour can fairly be blamed for the current mess!”
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