AN ENVIRONMENTAL group has slammed the Welsh Government’s consultation on easing traffic flows on the M4 as "shambolic".

Friends of the Earth Cymru said that increasing traffic congestion on the M4 was "a fallacy," and variable speed limits on the motorway were already improving traffic flow around Newport.

The attack comes on the back of a period of Welsh Government consultation which is considering four proposals to tackle congestion, safety and pollution on the Newport stretch of the M4.

The proposals include, widening the M4 between junctions 24 and 29, creating an extra tunnel at Brynglas with a four-lane motorway in each direction, as well as the creation of a new dual carriageway to the south of Newport, and upgrading the Southern Distributor Road (SDR).

Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: "The M4 consultation is based on a fallacy that traffic and congestion are ever-increasing on the M4 around Newport. The facts show the complete opposite.

"Recently introduced variable speed limits are already reducing congestion, improving traffic flows and reducing accident rates.

"Safety issues raised during the consultation are also wide of the mark. The data shows the stretch of motorway around Newport is one of the safest in the UK, with one section having six times fewer accidents than the UK average.

“The quality of this consultation is particularly worrying. Some of the graphs would scarcely be robust enough for a geography GCSE project. We have serious concerns over the presentation of data and a number of unsubstantiated and misleading statements. The consultation even appears to contradict itself at different points in the same document.

"The flaws in this shambolic consultation mean it must be withdrawn, or the Welsh Government will be wide open to legal challenge."