Six years on since the M4 relief road was scrapped and the debate is going to be reopened
Six years on since the M4 relief road was scrapped and the debate is going to be reopened
The scheme was scrapped due to cost and the impact on the environment
Mark Drakeford previously cancelled the construction of the M4 relief road
(Image: WalesOnline )
It is one of the most contentious, and talked about issues in Wales - should there be a new section of motorway in south Wales to ease the traffic jams that build up on the M4?
Plans for an M4 relief road were drawn up, and a lot of money was spent on them before the Welsh Government said it wasn't going ahead as it had pledged previously. If it had been built, there would have been a 14-mile, six-lane motorway for people travelling to and from south Wales.
It would have included a bridge built across the River Usk, as well as major remodelling of M4 junctions 23 Magor and 29 at Cardiff.
The aim was to relieve congestion on the current M4 route which runs north of Newport, particularly at the Brynglas tunnels - where there it narrows to two lanes. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here
But after years of debate, and, costs of £114m since 2013, just over six years ago, then-First Minister Mark Drakeford went back on a 2016 Labour manifesto pledge said the road would not be going ahead, due to a combination of factors - its cost and impact on the environment.
He went against the finding of the public inquiry inspector's report which backed the scheme, although the inspector acknowledged it could not tell the Welsh Government how to spend its money.
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The position at the time was that the economic climate meant the project was too expensive. Mr Drakeford went further though saying, it would not have gone ahead even if it was affordable because of the impact on the Gwent Levels.
A year later, Mr Drakeford told people it was off the table and they should stop trying to continue the debate. "That decision is over," he said, adding he would be "concentrating on the alternatives" for solving the major traffic problems in the area.
The First Minister is no longer Mr Drakeford, but the current post holder, Eluned Morgan, does not plan to reopen the debate.
In a Senedd committee in December, she said: "We didn't develop the M4 relief road, there is still a problem, and Burns has set out some recommendations, and we do need to make sure that we fulfil our obligations to improve the situation in relation to the M4.".
Then, earlier this year, in a live question and answer session for WalesOnline she said there simply wasn't the money to pay for a relief road.
She said she understood frustrations, "we've all been in those traffic jams" but she said "fixing it costs over £1bn and we just don't have that money". Her focus was getting people to use alternatives, including trains, she said.
In the UK Government's spending review last week, which sets out their financial plans for the coming years, chancellor Rachel Reeves committed £445m to rail in Wales including £300m for works on things like the five railway stations suggested by Lord Burns as an alternative to the relief road. You can read about those here.
Despite that, as we start to see political parties try carve out their pitch to voters for the Senedd election in May 2026, the Welsh Conservatives have put the debate back on the table and this afternoon (June 18) will raise it for discussion in the Senedd.
Their call - which will also be a manifesto pledge - is for "the Welsh Government to deliver an M4 relief road" and that they "regret that this month marks six years since the M4 relief road project was scrapped". There will be a 60-minute debate on the issue.
However, any vote will not be binding, and will not have the support of Plaid Cymru and Labour whose members outnumber the Conservatives.
Plaid Cymru will however criticise the Labour government because of "the failure of Welsh Government to quickly refocus funding originally earmarked for the M4 relief road project towards an alternative vision for a sustainable integrated Welsh transport network, including giving priority to addressing the congestion issues around Newport".
Labour has tabled an alternative to the Conservative motion being discussed, saying it "deplores" what it calls "empty promises" from the Conservatives. The debate is due to start around 6pm on Wednesday, June 18.
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