Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Environmental campaigners have today described the Welsh Government’s M4 plans as “not fit for purpose”. Among the concerns raised by Friends of the Earth Cymru in their response [1] to the Welsh Government’s Draft Orders [2] are: · Massively understating the cost of the motorway (through ignoring VAT and inflation) · Serious deficiencies in the sustainable development appraisal · Traffic forecasting that is already grossly out of touch with reality · Long-standing failures to consider non-motorway alternatives · Air quality will be better than legal standards without the new motorway by the time the motorway is proposed to be built · A significant increase in noise for more than 1,200 people with the new motorway; without, a minor increase in noise for 38 people · Ignoring the impact of sea-level rise on the new motorway Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “The Welsh Government’s plans are flawed in any n...

The Welsh Government is “deceiving the people of Wales” on the new M4 Relief Road bypass cost, according to Friends of the Earth Cymru. The Welsh Government’s latest consultation on the M4 Newport bypass puts the cost of the project at £1.1 billion [1]. However this cost does not include VAT, inflation or maintenance and repair, which environmental campaigners say doubles the cost of the project. Last May the First Minister said that the actual cost of the project would be “a long, long way under £1 billion” [2], and then in November he stated the cost would be “way below” £1 billion [3]. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “If any of us want to make an extension on our house we need to know how much it’s going to cost. We can’t possibly exclude things like VAT and maintenance. But the Welsh Government is sweeping these massive costs for the M4 under the carpet and hoping we’ll all forget about it. “We’ve calculated that the scheme will cost more tha...

A freedom of information request has cast doubt on the Welsh Government’s claims about the safety of the M4 around Newport. A local resident in Newport queried the Welsh Government’s use of safety statistics at its M4 promotional exhibitions in September. The exhibitions told the Welsh public that “the current accident rates on the M4 between Magor and Castleton are higher than average for UK motorways” [1]. However the Welsh Government has revealed that the higher accident rates only applied to three of the six junctions, and for the years 2006-2008 [2]. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “This is an extraordinary revelation. The Welsh Government claims that accident rates on the M4 are higher than the national average. But the data it used – described as “current” – was nearly a decade old. And even that data shows that for much of the stretch of motorway around Newport, accident rates are lower than the national average, and safety across that board has i...

The Welsh Government’s plans to build a six lane motorway through one of Wales’ most important wildlife habitats may be unlawful, according to advice given to an environment charity. Friends of the Earth Cymru has today launched a judicial review of the new M4 plans [1], after the Government refused to reconsider the decision to build through the highly protected Gwent Levels wetlands. A judge will now examine whether the Welsh Government unlawfully limited the range of reasonable alternatives, by only considering a new motorway south of Newport and two similar variations. They will also consider if the plan’s substantial damage to protected wildlife sites is permitted by law. Environment groups, transport experts and business representatives have all opposed the new motorway, with fears it could damage Wales’ environment and economy. Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, Gareth Clubb said: “This motorway would cause massive damage to important and protected wildlife. We think the We...

The Welsh Government has announced the go ahead for a six lane motorway that will plough through part of one of Wales’ most protected and environmentally sensitive landscapes. The £1 billion motorway will devastate nationally important wildlife sites in the beautiful and peaceful Gwent Levels south of Newport, but will not be open to traffic for more than a decade. The massive cost will rule out other far less damaging options that could bring transport improvements to the area in a fraction of the time and at a fraction of the price. Environment groups such as Friends of the Earth Cymru, RSPB Cymru and the Gwent Wildlife Trust, transport expert Professor Stuart Cole from Cardiff University, and business representatives including the Federation of Small Businesses have all opposed the plan, with fears it could trash Wales’ environment and economy. Gareth Clubb, Director of Friends of the Earth Cymru, said: “This vastly expensive, utterly unnecessary and terribly damaging motorway is t...