‘Carwyn’s successor must make M4 ruling’
ASSEMBLY Members have unanimously backed a Plaid Cymru motion calling for the next First Minister, rather than Carwyn Jones, to make a decision on the proposed M4 Relief Road.
Some supporters of the scheme have been hoping outgoing First Minister Mr Jones would sign off the scheme before leaving office next month, forcing his successor to accept the controversial project.
The employers’ group CBI backs the so-called M4 Black Route, saying it would relieve congestion in the Newport area, while environmental groups oppose it, saying it would damage the Gwent Levels landscape.
Backing the motion, Plaid AM Llyr Gruffydd said: “We’ve heard, of course, about the scale of the decision to be taken – the single largest investment decision that this Government, or any government since the dawn of devolution, has taken.
“But, of course, if that decision is made by the current First Minister, then it won’t be him that’ll be in a position to be held to account for it or to have to justify it and its wideranging consequences.
“It won’t be the present First Minister who will be held accountable when the building starts and when the unique protected landscape of the Gwent levels is damaged – the ancient woodland, the nationally designated nature conservation sites. It won’t be the present First Minister who will be held to account when future generations face the adverse effects resulting from the increased carbon emissions, making it, of course, more difficult for the Government to meet its own emission reduction targets.”
Labour AM Lee Waters said: “The public inquiry was told [the cost of the scheme] had gone up to £1.4bn – it had doubled. We now understand that it’s gone up to £1.7bn. Now, there’s no way I’d think that this scheme’s going to come out anywhere under £2bn – £2,000m for 12 miles of road that is set to produce average journey time savings of between two and a half and five minutes. Now, that seems to me a completely disproportionate investment for those levels of benefits.”
Leader of the House Julie James said: “This is a process that will be subject to appeal and judicial review, almost certainly, and therefore the lawyers are very keen that the exact provisions – what is relevant, what is not relevant, what should be taken into account or should not be taken into account – are set out for the First Minister in making the decision and in reading the report.”
She said it was still possible that would happen before Mr Jones leaves office and that a debate at which AMs could express their views would be scheduled for next week.
However, even if the First Minister agreed to the scheme in principle, a decision on whether to spend the money required would have to be taken separately.