Majority in Wales back new M4 relief road, poll suggests
THE Welsh Government’s controversial plan to built an M4 relief road near Newport has been boosted by an opinion poll showing that most people support it.
The poll – carried out for the Western Mail and WalesOnline by Beaufort Research – shows that more than six in 10 adults across Wales (63%) are in favour of the M4 relief road being built, with just over a third overall (36%) saying it should “definitely be built” and another 27% saying it should “possibly be built”.
Around one in 10 (12%) are opposed to its being built, while around one in four (26%) answered “don’t know”.
Marked differences in views are
evident by region – those living closest to the site of the proposed relief road are most likely to say it should definitely be built, with 51% of adults in Cardiff and south-east Wales saying this. A further 18% in this region said it should possibly be built.
In contrast, only 11% of those living in north Wales feel it should definitely be constructed.
In the Valleys, 43% of people said it should definitely be built, with a further 35% saying it should possibly be built.
In mid and west Wales, 40% think the relief road should definitely be built, with a further 28% saying it should possibly be built.
In south-west Wales – a region covering the three local authority areas of Swansea, Neath Port Talbot and Bridgend – 35% thought the relief road should definitely be built, with a further 38% saying it should possibly go ahead.
No differences were evident by region in terms in levels of opposition, however – a similar proportion of around one in 10 in each region of Wales felt that the M4 relief road should not be built.
While 43% of men across Wales said the relief road should definitely go ahead, the proportion dipped to 29% for women.
A further 24% of men and 29% of women thought the project should possibly go ahead.
And while 45% of ABs (upper socioeconomic grades) thought the relief road should be built, just 32% of those in the C2DE category of semi-skilled, unskilled and the unemployed agreed.
There was little difference in attitude to the project in terms of age, with 35% of those aged 16-24 believing it should definitely go ahead and a further 29% thinking it should possibly be built, against 39% of those aged over 65 thinking the relief road should go ahead and a further 22% thinking it should possibly do so.
Passions have been strong on both sides as to whether the relief road should be built.
In February, during a speech in Cardiff, CBI director general Carolyn Fairbairn said: “It is great news that the business voice got the M4 relief road into the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government, but we’re not counting any chickens.
“The relief road has been on and off the drawing board for a quarter of a century.
“It’s been kicked into the long grass so many times, it’s starting to put down roots.
“Well, every time that’s happened, firms have made it clear that it needs to be put back on track.
“So let me state yet again why Wales needs this investment.
“The M4 is Wales’ motorway, 70% of Welsh freight is moved by road and much of it via the M4.”
Ms Fairbairn said what was a key artery into the “heart of the Welsh economy” was being clogged up, with damaging consequences for the economy.
She added: “Twenty-five years ago, the case for relieving the M4 was strong. Today it’s overwhelming.
“It’s been in inquiries, reviews and consultations longer than some here have been alive.
“But it’s time for the politicians to break the habit of a lifetime.
“Give it the green light and get it built.”
But Future Generations Commissioner Sophie Howe has spoken out strongly against the relief road, arguing in a submission to the recently completed public inquiry that in supporting the project, the Welsh Government was going against its own legal commitment to sustainable development.
In the submission, she claimed the Welsh Government had misinterpreted one of its own pieces of legislation, saying: “The misapplication of the duties under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015 in this case might set a wrong precedent which I am keen to avoid.
“The legislation provides a new framework for decision-making in Wales and requires a dramatic shift in the way we take decisions in Wales; my role is to ensure that these new ways of working and making decisions are adopted by those organisations covered by the Act.”
Ms Howe went on to say that officials and witnesses at the inquiry who had claimed to apply “sustainable development” principles had not done so in
accordance with the requirements of the Act.
The Act expects policy-makers to consider the implications of their decisions on the economic, social, environmental and cultural wellbeing of Wales – known as the four pillars of wellbeing.
Ms Howe stated: “The new Act requires public bodies to take holistic decisions and to cease making decisions which harm critical elements of wellbeing, including social, economic, environmental and cultural elements ... I would expect that decisions only contributing to one or two pillars of wellbeing to be disregarded and those that have multiple benefits across each of the elements of wellbeing to be selected. The balancing in this revolutionary Act means giving as equal as possible weight to each element and not allowing one to tip the scale.”
Opponents of the relief road say the preferred route would damage the environment and make it difficult to afford transport projects elsewhere in Wales.
Some argue in favour of an alternative relief road route largely using the existing road network, while others say improvements to public transport would make any relief road unnecessary.
The latest official estimate of the cost of the preferred route for the proposed M4 relief road is between £1.3bn and £1.4bn.
Earlier this week Economy and Transport Secretary Ken Skates issued a written ministerial statement which said: “The public inquiry into the scheme has now closed.
“Detailed evidence has been heard, both for and against the proposals, over 83 sitting days. Two independent inspectors have openly and robustly scrutinised whether the scheme is the long-term, sustainable solution to the problems on this gateway.
“As well as the scope and impacts of the scheme, suggested alternatives have been thoroughly assessed including the ‘blue route’ suggestion of works to existing roads in Newport.
“I would like to thank all those involved in the inquiry, ensuring that the inspectors’ report will be informed by the best possible evidence.
“Once we receive the inspectors’ report, the Welsh ministers must complete the statutory process. The next steps will be announced, alongside publication of the inspectors’ report for all to see.
“In recognition of the importance of this matter to the whole of Wales, we have committed to a debate in government time in the Assembly before a final decision is made by the Welsh ministers whether to enter into contracts for construction.”