‘Regrettable’ delay in M4 relief road inquiry
APUBLIC inquiry into the proposed M4 Relief Road in South Wales has been delayed after the UK Government confirmed a new method of forecasting vehicle traffic growth.
Earlier this year the Welsh Government – which is backing the proposed Black Route with a new 15-mile stretch of motorway south of Newport – confirmed that a public inquiry – which would also assess other routes, including the dual carriage Blue Route option through Newport – was scheduled to start in November.
However, the Welsh Government said the inquiry will now not start until the New Year – March 31 at the latest – but it stressed that this shouldn’t impact on the proposed completion date of 2021.
The aim is still for work on the Welsh Government’s preferred Black Route to start in spring 2018.
The estimated cost, although there is a healthy contingency, is £1bn minus VAT.
However, the Welsh Government is looking to have the project VAT exempt by the Treasury.
The UK Treasury has agreed to support the project by allowing the Welsh Government to borrow £500m towards the cost.
The Welsh Government is not certain though of getting a majority of AMs to back a black route, even if recommended by the independent public inquiry.
It said that officials at the Department for Transport, have introduced revised methodology to their new forecasting for growth.
Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Infrastructure, Ken Skates said: “The UK Government has already expressed its desire to see work on the M4 project start as soon as possible, so it is hugely disappointing that the Department for Transport chose only to engage with us on these amendments to their traffic forecasting three days before they were introduced forcing this regrettable delay to the start date of the public inquiry.
“Whilst we push forward with our Metro plans for north and south Wales, the long standing and continued problems associated with the M4 around Newport need a solution that delivers a long term, integrated and sustainable transport system.
“Assessments indicate that our proposed M4 project is the only reasonable solution, but it is only right and proper that the proposals are scrutinised robustly, transparently and openly in an inquiry and that we test the project in light of the most up-to-date information available to ensure that we deliver the right choice for the people in Wales.
“It is essential that we, and others who wish to submit evidence to the public inquiry, now take time to fully review these new Department for Transport figures before the inquiry begins.
“We’ve made a strong commitment to deliver a sustainable, long term solution to the chronic traffic problems on this stretch of the M4 and I have been assured that, subject to inquiry approval, the M4 Corridor around Newport Project will still be completed in 2021.”
Chairman of CBI Wales, Michael Plaut, said: “While we recognise the need to take into account new methodology to ensure the most robust business case, the delay to the start of the public inquiry is disappointing, bearing in mind the continued clear and urgent need for a motorway-standard M4 Relief Road.
“As commuters and businesses know only too well, the problem of the M4 bottleneck at Newport has not gone away and this is evidenced by the regular 10 and 20 mile queues through the Brynglas Tunnels over recent months – which have come at no small cost to the Welsh economy.
“The existing M4 continues to deter business investment into south and west Wales and a relief road remains the only viable solution.”