News

Build the M4 relief road – say Welsh Conservatives in Senedd debate

Published

9 months ago

June 16, 2025

THIS month marks six years since the Welsh Labour Government formally cancelled the M4 relief road project near Newport — a decision that continues to divide opinion across Wales.

The proposed six-lane motorway, designed to bypass the heavily congested Brynglas Tunnels, was scrapped in June 2019 by First Minister Mark Drakeford. At the time, he cited the £1.4 billion cost, the ecological importance of the Gwent Levels, and the Welsh Government’s commitment to reduce emissions from transport.

Despite over £150 million of public money already spent on preparatory work and planning, the project was abandoned. It has since become a key battleground in the debate over infrastructure, the economy, and climate policy in Wales.

Welsh Conservatives: “Build it now”

This week, the Welsh Conservatives brought a motion before the Senedd urging ministers to revisit the decision and move forward with delivering the M4 relief road.

Sam Rowlands MS, Conservative Shadow Secretary for Finance, Transport and Infrastructure, said:

“Labour’s decision to scrap the M4 relief road wasted huge amounts of money and was an attack on Welsh motorists.

An M4 relief road would have alleviated traffic demands, whilst boosting our economy and investment into Wales.

Welsh Conservatives will always be on the side of motorists, and that’s why we’re calling for the M4 relief road to be delivered.”

Party leader Andrew RT Davies added that the relief road is essential if Wales is serious about attracting investment and improving productivity:

“We desperately need an M4 Relief Road, to improve transport infrastructure and attract investment into South Wales.”

Labour and Plaid: Environmental costs and funding gaps

The Labour-led Welsh Government has defended its stance, arguing that major roadbuilding projects are incompatible with the urgent need to reduce emissions and shift towards sustainable transport. The decision to scrap the project was reinforced by a wider moratorium on new roadbuilding, introduced in 2021.

Lee Waters MS, then Deputy Minister for Economy and Transport, was clear: “We won’t get to Net Zero unless we stop doing the same thing over and over again. Building more roads to deal with congestion is not a long-term solution.”

Plaid Cymru, meanwhile, has focused on funding, arguing that the UK Government has failed to provide the necessary infrastructure investment. Ben Lake MP told Parliament last week:

“This new money does not come close to the £1.8 billion owed to Wales. And simply, there’s no additional money for road infrastructure and to even revisit things like the M4 relief road.”

How did a road that hasn’t been built cost millions?

Although the M4 relief road was never constructed, the Welsh Government still spent more than £150 million of public money on the project — a figure that continues to raise eyebrows.

The costs stem not from construction, but from a wide range of preparatory and legal work undertaken over several years before the scheme was cancelled in 2019.

A significant portion of the money — over £15 million — was spent on compulsory purchase of homes and land along the proposed route. At least 29 residential properties were bought, some just weeks before First Minister Mark Drakeford pulled the plug. Two houses in particular were purchased in April 2019 for £575,000 and £400,000 respectively.

Millions more went into planning, environmental studies, traffic modelling, engineering designs, and the costs of the public inquiry — a legal process that included months of hearings and hundreds of pages of technical submissions.

Specialist consultants were hired to advise on road design, ecological mitigation, legal compliance, transport economics and flood risk — all of which are standard for major infrastructure proposals. These reports were produced in line with UK Government transport policy requirements and the Welsh Government’s own planning framework.

While no tarmac was ever laid, these upfront costs reflect the extensive legal, technical and bureaucratic groundwork required for a nationally significant road project. As critics have pointed out, hundreds of millions were spent only to cancel the scheme, with no visible infrastructure to show for it.

The properties bought under compulsory purchase are now being managed by the Welsh Government’s property division, with some rented out. However, their long-term use remains uncertain.

The cost of inaction

While some academics have cautioned that road projects can induce more traffic and fail to deliver long-term economic transformation, most experts agree that Wales has already lost hundreds of millions of pounds by not building the M4 relief road — and the costs continue to mount.

The Freight Transport Association warned in 2019 that cancellation could result in “hundreds of millions of pounds in lost private sector investment.”

A 2009 business case suggested the scheme would deliver £695 million in net benefits over its lifetime.

The CBI has repeatedly said that poor transport connectivity is one of the biggest barriers to attracting new business to South Wales.

The Welsh Government’s own 2016 report found that congestion on the M4 imposes significant costs on productivity, freight movement, and tourism — all of which act as a drag on economic performance.

Even critics of the original scheme concede that the current traffic bottleneck at the Brynglas Tunnels remains one of the worst in the UK, with the South East Wales Transport Commission ranking it as the 4th most congested urban motorway in Britain and among the top 50 in Europe.

Despite earlier warnings that the relief road might only offer short-term gains, the economic and logistical price of inaction is becoming harder to ignore.

The motion

The motion brought forward by the Welsh Conservatives reads:

To propose that the Senedd:

Regrets that this month marks six years since the M4 relief road project was scrapped.
Calls on the Welsh Government to deliver an M4 relief road.

Labour and Plaid Cymru are expected to vote against the motion, but the debate has once again brought national attention to the M4 corridor’s ongoing transport crisis — and the growing cost of not fixing it.

Community

Weather presenter spotted filming in Pembrokeshire

Published

9 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A WELL-KNOWN Welsh weather presenter was spotted in Pembrokeshire as he filmed scenes for a new series celebrating the county’s coastline.

Derek Brockway, who has been a familiar face on BBC Wales since 1995, was in St Davids recently working on another instalment of his popular walking series along the Pembrokeshire Coast.

Local resident Thomas Tudor said it was “lovely” to meet the broadcaster during filming, posing for a photograph alongside his mother, Beryl Tudor, and sister, Bethan Thomas Price.

Brockway, who is based at BBC Cymru Wales in Cardiff, is widely known not only for his weather forecasts across television, radio and online, but also for his programmes showcasing Wales’ landscapes and coastal paths.

The latest filming in St Davids is expected to form part of an upcoming series highlighting the natural beauty and walking routes of Pembrokeshire, an area long regarded as one of the jewels in Wales’ tourism crown.

Ministry of Defence

Defence families in Wales to save up to £6,000 under new childcare scheme

Published

9 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A MAJOR new childcare support scheme for Armed Forces families will be rolled out across Wales from September 2026, the UK Government has announced.

The initiative is expected to save eligible families up to £6,000 per child each year, providing a significant boost to household finances amid ongoing cost-of-living pressures.

The scheme will be delivered through the Ministry of Defence’s existing Early Years childcare reimbursement system and will bring Wales in line with the level of support already available to forces families in England.

Today, 19/03/2026 The Secretary of State for Defence John Healey visited Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh, home to 3rd Battalion the Rifles. He met with families to launch a new scheme for Defence Families in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.

Ministers say the move is part of a wider effort to improve recruitment and retention in the Armed Forces, with childcare costs identified as a key pressure affecting morale.

The new support will cover children from nine months old until they reach three years of age in Wales and Scotland, and up to four years old in Northern Ireland.

Defence Secretary John Healey MP announced the scheme during a visit to Dreghorn Barracks in Edinburgh.

He said: “Our Armed Forces families are at the heart of our nation’s security. As the demands on defence increase, it is right that we step up our support for those who serve.

“This offer will ensure more military families get the childcare support they need, wherever they are posted.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added: “Service families in Wales make huge sacrifices and deserve the best possible support.

“They contribute not only to our national security but also to the Welsh economy. This scheme delivers meaningful help with the cost of childcare.”

The scheme will reimburse the difference in early years childcare costs for eligible working families. To qualify, both parents must be in employment and meet the income thresholds required for a Tax-Free Childcare account.

Hundreds of families across Wales are expected to benefit.

The announcement forms part of a broader package of support introduced since July 2024, including improved military housing, the largest Armed Forces pay rise in two decades, and plans to strengthen the Armed Forces Covenant in law.

Further details will be provided in the coming months, with families encouraged to begin considering childcare arrangements ahead of the scheme’s launch.

Community

Broad Haven volunteers secure ‘national asset’ status for nature reserve

Published

9 hours ago

March 22, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SMALL stretch of woodland and former opencast coal mine has been transformed into a nationally recognised biodiversity site, in a major first for Wales.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve has been awarded ‘Naturfa’ status, becoming the first community-managed site in Wales to receive the designation.

The recognition, confirmed by Deputy First Minister Huw Irranca-Davies, classifies the reserve as an “Other Effective Area-based Conservation Measure” (OECM). This means the volunteer-led work of the Support the Boardwalk group will now contribute directly to Wales’ 30×30 target – the global commitment to protect 30% of land, freshwater and sea for nature by 2030.

In a further boost, the site has also been included in the National Forest for Wales, recognising its role in strengthening a connected network of woodlands and habitats across the country.

Once a simple local walkway, the Slash Pond has developed into a thriving wildlife haven. The reserve now supports a wide range of species, including critically endangered European eels, otters, ten species of bat, and more than fifty species of birds, alongside diverse aquatic plants and insects.

Huw Irranca-Davies said: “These special places are a testament to the care and dedication of people working on the ground – securing a legacy for future generations. Nature can only thrive where habitats are resilient, protected and effectively managed.”

The new status is expected to unlock future funding opportunities, supporting long-term plans for maintaining the boardwalk, monitoring biodiversity and water quality, installing new signage, and expanding environmental education work with Broad Haven Primary School and the wider Havens community.

Andy Drumm, a volunteer with Support the Boardwalk, said: “We’ve always known how special the Slash Pond is, but this recognition puts it firmly on the map as a national asset. It’s a tribute to years of hard work and shows that local communities can lead the way in tackling the nature crisis.”

To mark the achievement, a Spring Family Fun Day will take place on Friday (May 9) from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at the Slash Pond car park.

The event will feature guided nature walks, pond dipping, a wildlife treasure trail, live music, and family activities including crafts and face painting. The official unveiling of the Naturfa certificate and new reserve branding will also take place, alongside the launch of a new book, From Culm to Calm: A History of the Slash Pond by local author David Meanwell.

Karen Riggs, a long-time volunteer, said: “This achievement belongs to everyone in Broad Haven who has supported the site over the years. We’re not just celebrating a new title – we’re celebrating what our community has built together.”

The day will also see the installation of new benches at the observation decks and the launch of a floating island habitat to support wildfowl and other bird species. Visitors will also be invited to share feedback on plans for an improved picnic area designed to withstand local flooding.

Naturfa is a Welsh Government initiative recognising areas outside traditional protected sites, such as SSSIs, that are managed in ways which deliver long-term benefits for biodiversity.

The Slash Pond Community Nature Reserve is managed by the Support the Boardwalk group in partnership with The Havens Community Council, and is maintained entirely by volunteers.

Further information and updates are available via the Support the Boardwalk Facebook page.