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M4 relief road: FM to announce decision on Tuesday | M4 relief road: FM to announce decision on Tuesday |
(about 2 hours later) | |
A long-awaited decision on the Welsh Government's plans for the M4 relief road is expected to be made on Tuesday. | A long-awaited decision on the Welsh Government's plans for the M4 relief road is expected to be made on Tuesday. |
First Minister Mark Drakeford will make a statement to the Welsh Assembly on the £1.4bn motorway project to the south of Newport. | First Minister Mark Drakeford will make a statement to the Welsh Assembly on the £1.4bn motorway project to the south of Newport. |
Controversial plans for a new motorway to deal with congestion through the Brynglas Tunnels have been around since the early 1990s. | Controversial plans for a new motorway to deal with congestion through the Brynglas Tunnels have been around since the early 1990s. |
A public inquiry on the matter finished last year. | A public inquiry on the matter finished last year. |
If it goes ahead the 14-mile (23km) six-lane motorway would be built south of Newport, between Magor and Castleton. | If it goes ahead the 14-mile (23km) six-lane motorway would be built south of Newport, between Magor and Castleton. |
Mr Drakeford, who has been considering the report from the inquiry, had said a decision was expected to be announced at the beginning of June. | Mr Drakeford, who has been considering the report from the inquiry, had said a decision was expected to be announced at the beginning of June. |
The first minister has kept his cards close to his chest. While he is widely thought to be a sceptic, he has made no recent public statement on the merits of the project. | The first minister has kept his cards close to his chest. While he is widely thought to be a sceptic, he has made no recent public statement on the merits of the project. |
The findings of the year-long inquiry have not been made public, although Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said he understood it ruled in favour. | |
There is opposition among Labour AMs - including Lee Waters, who was appointed by Mark Drakeford to be a deputy transport minister but will not be involved in the M4 decision. | There is opposition among Labour AMs - including Lee Waters, who was appointed by Mark Drakeford to be a deputy transport minister but will not be involved in the M4 decision. |
Plaid Cymru AMs are also opposed. Although Mr Cairns is a supporter, the Welsh Conservatives are not believed to have a united view. | |
The Brexit Party group of four AMs backs the project. | The Brexit Party group of four AMs backs the project. |
'Closed for business?' | 'Closed for business?' |
Former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies tweeted: "Will Tuesday be the day that the First Minister and his Welsh Labour Government put a sign up saying that Wales is closed for business?" | Former Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies tweeted: "Will Tuesday be the day that the First Minister and his Welsh Labour Government put a sign up saying that Wales is closed for business?" |
But Plaid has said the Welsh Government's declaration of a climate emergency, following protests in London, Cardiff and elsewhere, should mean the relief road does not go ahead. | But Plaid has said the Welsh Government's declaration of a climate emergency, following protests in London, Cardiff and elsewhere, should mean the relief road does not go ahead. |
Mr Drakeford's predecessor Carwyn Jones had been due to make a decision last year. | Mr Drakeford's predecessor Carwyn Jones had been due to make a decision last year. |
Mark Drakeford held off announcing the Welsh Government's views for the Newport West by-election, and had suggested the decision was also delayed due to the EU elections. | Mark Drakeford held off announcing the Welsh Government's views for the Newport West by-election, and had suggested the decision was also delayed due to the EU elections. |
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