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Environmental groups predict £1 billion devastation

Environmental campaigners Friends of the Earth and sustainable transport charity Sustrans have both condemned the decision to go ahead with a new motorway. They claim it will devastate nationally important wildlife sites in the Gwent Levels south of Newport. They also predict that the motorway won't open to traffic for more than a decade and that the billion pound cost will starve more worthwhile transport projects of funds.

This vastly expensive, utterly unnecessary and terribly damaging motorway is the worst possible transport choice for south east Wales. And the billion pound price tag means that, at a time when traffic has actually decreased since 2007, it’s going to come at the cost of the sustainable solutions that could benefit us all. Investment in public transport and some modest road improvements could improve transport in the area at a fraction of the cost, and we could be seeing the benefits almost immediately.

– Gareth Clubb, Friends of the Earth Cymru

£1 billion for a new section of motorway is the wrong transport priority for Wales. Investment in public transport must be the priority for building a sustainable and efficient economy, yet the Welsh Government’s consultation on the need for an M4 relief road scheme didn’t take into account other proposals that will reduce demand, such as the Metro programme, or evidence showing that car use is now in decline.

– Jane Lorimer, Sustrans Cymru
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Environmental group begins action over M4 relief road