CAMPAIGN AGAINST M4 RELIEF ROAD GATGERS STRENGTH

The campaign against the proposed M4 relief road gathered new momentum today. Opponents claimed it would wreak havoc in a wildlife haven, have staged a campaign event over their concerns. Gwent Wildlife Trust claims the road would damage the Caldicot Levels Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSIs). It had invited residents to a "Marshes or Motorway" event, to explain its fears over the plans.Julian Branscombe, GWT chief executive, said the Levels were a prime example of wetlands where rare aquatic flora and fauna had survived. Species there included water voles - "our fastest-declining mammals", rare plants like frogbit, insects like the silver water beetle, said Mr Branscombe. Its drainage ditches, known as reens, are inhabited by more than 150 "nationally-significant" invertebrates, he said, some of which date back to Roman times. He added: "Five miles of the wetland would be directly affected by this monstrous road proposal - an ill-conceived and unsustainable relief road for the existing M4 around Newport."
The Trust say on their website "There is no way we can plan for every eventuality with respect to accidents on the present M4. We must not allow a road to be built in an attempt build our way out of congestion. It is time the Welsh Assembly Government investigated more sustainable and less damaging solutions to congestion problems, in particular investing in an efficient public transport system that encouraged people to get out of their cars rather than into them."The Welsh Assembly Government said the proposed route had been realigned in 2004 to minimise impact on the levels.