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Welsh Government scraps M4 relief road M4 relief road: Newport motorway plans scrapped
(32 minutes later)
The Welsh Government will not build the £1.4bn M4 relief road, First Minister Mark Drakeford has decided.The Welsh Government will not build the £1.4bn M4 relief road, First Minister Mark Drakeford has decided.
Mr Drakeford has axed the scheme because of its cost and the impact on the environment. Mr Drakeford has axed the scheme because of its cost and impact on the environment.
The project would have seen a motorway built south of Newport to tackle congestion at the Brynglas tunnels.The project would have seen a motorway built south of Newport to tackle congestion at the Brynglas tunnels.
The CBI called it a "dark day for the Welsh economy" but Friends of the Earth said it was "great news for Wales and the planet". Welsh Secretary Alun Cairns said it was a "dark day" but Friends of the Earth said it was "great news for Wales and the planet".
"After eight years of dithering, it seems the First Minister realised Plaid Cymru were right all along and has finally decided to scrap the black route," Adam Price, Plaid Cymru leader, said.
It is the third time Welsh ministers have shelved plans for the M4 relief road, and is a U-turn on a manifesto pledge from 2016. At least £44m was spent on a public inquiry and other development costs.
Mr Drakeford's decision to scrap the six-lane scheme follows a public inquiry by planning inspector Bill Wadrup, whose report backed the project.Mr Drakeford's decision to scrap the six-lane scheme follows a public inquiry by planning inspector Bill Wadrup, whose report backed the project.
The cabinet had already decided earlier this year that it would not fund the scheme, Mr Drakeford's decision said. Mr Cairns added: "It appears that the first minister thinks he knows better than the independent inquiry."
He said that cabinet ministers in April concluded that the cost of the project was not acceptable with "the financial position of the Welsh Government, the cost of the Project, and its consequential impact on other capital investment priorities, was not acceptable". It is the third time Welsh ministers have shelved plans for the M4 relief road, and is a U-turn on a manifesto pledge from 2016. At least £44m was spent on a public inquiry and other development costs.
The inspector concluded that the project would constitute "at least sound value for money, and in all probability good value for money". The Welsh Government cabinet had already decided that it would not fund the scheme, Mr Drakeford said.
But Mr Drakeford added "the allocation of Welsh Government funds was beyond the scope of the public inquiry". He said that cabinet ministers in April concluded it was not acceptable due to "the financial position of the Welsh Government, the cost of the project, and its consequential impact on other capital investment priorities".
"I attach greater weight than the inspector did to the adverse impacts that the Project would have on the environment," Mr Drakeford wrote. The inspector concluded that the scheme would constitute "at least sound value for money, and in all probability good value for money".
"In particular, I attach very significant weight to the fact that the project would have a substantial adverse impact on the Gwent Levels... and their green network and wildlife, and on other species, and a permanent adverse impact on the historic landscape of the Gwent Levels." But Mr Drakeford said "the allocation of Welsh Government funds was beyond the scope of the public inquiry".
"In my judgement the Project's adverse impacts on the environment (taken together with its other disadvantages) outweigh its advantages." "I attach greater weight than the inspector did to the adverse impacts that the project would have on the environment," Mr Drakeford added.
"In particular, I attach very significant weight to the fact that the project would have a substantial adverse impact on the Gwent Levels... and their reen network and wildlife, and on other species, and a permanent adverse impact on the historic landscape of the Gwent Levels."
"In my judgement the project's adverse impacts on the environment (taken together with its other disadvantages) outweigh its advantages," he concluded.
Jayne Bryant, Newport West Labour assembly member, said she was "deeply disappointed that an M4 relief road is not going ahead".Jayne Bryant, Newport West Labour assembly member, said she was "deeply disappointed that an M4 relief road is not going ahead".
"I am adamant that the money set aside for a relief road must be spent on resolving this problem around Newport," she said."I am adamant that the money set aside for a relief road must be spent on resolving this problem around Newport," she said.
But Friends of the Earth said: "This is a great news for Wales and the planet.   'Climate-wrecking'
But Friends of the Earth Cymru director Haf Elgar said: "This is a great news for Wales and the planet.  
"As well as costing Welsh taxpayers over £2 billion pounds, this devastating road would have ploughed through the unique, wildlife-rich Gwent Levels, pumped more climate-wrecking emissions into our atmosphere, and ultimately caused even more congestion and air pollution.""As well as costing Welsh taxpayers over £2 billion pounds, this devastating road would have ploughed through the unique, wildlife-rich Gwent Levels, pumped more climate-wrecking emissions into our atmosphere, and ultimately caused even more congestion and air pollution."
CBI Wales director Ian Price said: "After decades of deliberation and over £40m spent, no problem has been solved today. Director Ian Price, director of business lobby group CBI Wales, said: "After decades of deliberation and over £40m spent, no problem has been solved today.
"Congestion and road pollution around Newport can only increase. Economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise.""Congestion and road pollution around Newport can only increase. Economic growth will be stifled, confidence in the region will weaken and the cost of an eventual relief road will rise."
Opposition AMs were scathing. Russell George, Welsh Conservative AM, said the announcement was a "kick in the teeth for Welsh commuters".
Plaid Cymru which had long opposed the scheme, said it showed the party was "right all along" but leader Adam price accused the Welsh Government of "eight years of dithering".
"His decision means fewer growing businesses, fewer jobs, lower wages and less prosperity," Brexit Party group leader Mark Reckless added.
Analysis by Felicity Evans, BBC Wales political editor
The letter explaining the reasons for Mark Drakeford's decision rejects the £1.4bn proposals on grounds of cost.
Mr Drakeford notes that the allocation of Welsh Government funds is beyond the scope of the public inquiry - which begs the question: why did the Welsh Government commission a public inquiry that cost tens of millions of pounds, when the Cabinet made the decision based on factors the inquiry could never consider?
The answer to that is the change of leadership at the top of the Welsh Labour.
Mark Drakeford was always cooler on the M4 relief road proposals than his predecessor, Carwyn Jones.
Nevertheless today's decision marks an expensive U turn on his party's 2016 manifesto commitment.
For emphasis Mr Drakeford goes on to say that even if cost had not been an issue, he wouldn't have gone ahead because of the environmental impact.