MP speaks out on M4 relief road debate
BRIDGEND MP Jamie Wallis has attacked the Welsh Government for crushing the last hope of building the M4 relief road by removing the protected corridor status from the land needed.
In a debate in Westminster Hall on climate change, Welsh Conservative Dr Wallis said that the move was reprehensible because it would increase congestion on the motorway through South Wales and also on the roads surrounding the M4 which are getting busier as people try to find alternative ways through. This is a significant cause of air pollution in the region.
Speaking afterwards he said: “There is a massive knock-on effect for Bridgend and all other places west of Newport. The Welsh Labour Government seems to equate net zero carbon with net zero cars. They have frozen almost all new road building schemes in Wales and seem to think that putting in new railway stations along the South Wales main line and building extra cycle lanes will solve the problem. It will not.
“Yes, we need to encourage people onto public transport and yet they have massively reduced subsidies on buses throughout Wales resulting in the loss of many services.
“The economic damage being done to south Wales is incalculable. While the UK Conservative Government has been busy removing the Severn Bridge tolls to encourage businesses to set up in Wales, the Welsh Labour Government has been equally busy undoing that good work by scrapping the M4 Relief road.
“Their actions are restricting the flow of goods and people along our most vital artery. It is a significant deterrent to any business thinking of moving into Wales and will cost many jobs and hold us back for decades to come.
“The answer lies not in trying to scrap cars but in encouraging people and businesses to shift towards zero emission cars, lorries and vans like electric or hydrogen powered vehicles.
“I am conscious of high levels of air pollution in parts of Bridgend, especially around schools, so the UK Government’s policy of accelerating the switch to electric and other zero emissions vehicles will benefit everyone as the quality of the air we breathe will improve as well as reducing the amount of carbon going into the atmosphere.”