New minister will not decide fate of proposed M4 relief road
OUTSPOKEN critic of the proposed M4 relief road Lee Waters has confirmed he will not be involved in the decision about the scheme – it will lie solely with new First Minister Mark Drakeford.
Mr Waters, AM for Llanelli, said that during the discussion about him becoming deputy minister for economy and transport it was made clear he will not have a say about whether the scheme should go ahead.
Speaking the day after Mr Drakeford announced his new cabinet, Mr Waters said the pair had discussed his stance.
“When I was offered the post, we both agreed that it would inappropriate for me to be involved in the
WORK on demolishing the toll booths on the Prince of Wales bridge across the River Severn is taking place this weekend.
Tolls will no longer be charged from first thing on Monday resulting in the potential loss of 100 jobs.
Work began yesterday on the process of removing the booths which will take some time and there will be closures to the bridge as follows:
■ From 6am to 8pm today and 6am to 7pm decision around the M4,” Mr Waters said.
Mr Drakeford, when asked during his campaign for the Welsh Labour leadership whether he would back tomorow, three toll lanes will be closed on the Prince of Wales Bridge to allow work that started last night to continue. Overnight the bridge will be fully closed westbound and drivers will be diverted via the M48 bridge.
■ The Prince of Wales bridge will reopen with three free flowing lanes. These will be narrow lanes the black route, said: “Don’t know”.
Mr Drakeford said at the time: “The debate on the M4 relief road has predominantly been focused on two issues – the predicted impact on the environment and the predicted benefits for the economy.
“As First Minister, I would move towards an approach in which environmental and economic wellbeing are closely aligned, in accordance with the provisions of the Wellbeing of Future Generations Act.
“Any major decision on a devolved matter such as this must be taken here in Wales and not dictated to us by anyone else.”
Then, after his election as Welsh Labour leader, he said: “My position with a 50mph speed limit to ensure the safety of drivers.
Shortly after the Prince of Wales bridge reopens toll free on Monday, the M48 bridge will be fully closed westbound for the tolls to be dismantled – it will reopen on Tuesday morning with two free flowing lanes.
These will be narrow lanes with a 50mph speed limit to ensure the safety of drivers. Further work will be carried out in the new year to return both routes to a three lane motorway with the usual 70mph speed limit. has to be a careful one because there is a legal process, a proper decisionmaking process. Some decisions may fall to me, and if they do then I will have to demonstrate – and it could well be in a court of law – that I have read the inspector’s report, which I am yet to see, that I have taken legal advice, that I have taken financial advice, that I’ve taken policy advice and I have given these major decisions the time that they need to make sure they are made in a proper fashion.
“That’s what I will do. That hasn’t been possible so far. It won’t be possible until after the new First Minister is elected. And then those decisions will be made in an orderly
Severn bridges general manager, Hannah Milliner, said: “Work is needed to make sure that drivers can safely travel across the bridges without stopping to pay a toll, or waiting for a barrier to be raised.
“The weekend we have chosen avoids peak period traffic and also means that the work will be complete so that drivers can make journeys free of charge over the festive period.
“We would like to thank drivers in advance for their patience while we fashion that will stand up to scrutiny in a court of law.”
But, the financing of the scheme would fall to the cabinet and the whole Assembly would debate the scheme – and Mr Waters would be involved in both those discussions.
Mr Waters, who worked as part of Mr Drakeford’s campaign team, said the new First Minister has given each ministerial team a list of his priorities and asked them to divide them between minister and deputy minister.
“That says a lot about the change of style. It’s far more empowering for a minister rather than a First Minister trying to impose ideas from the centre.” carry out this work and to ask them to plan ahead for any journeys they are considering.
“This is a significant piece of work which is far more complex than simply removing toll booths.
“We want to make sure that journeys can be completed safely and free of charge by the end of the year and will then focus on the next stage of work.”
Other changes taking place include the closure of the M4 Rogiet Tag office.