The risk of putting a pound sign on priceless ecosystems is too high. Whatever the cost of building the M4 across the Gwent Levels – it’s too high.
Building a wall of concrete and tarmac across this delicate ecosystem will change it irrevocably. At a time when the uncertainties of climate change are poised to devastate the natural world as we know it, building anything which make it worse is, at best, stupid.
Pippa Bartolotti, Leader of Wales Green Party states, “It is said that people know the price of everything and the value of nothing. Well, I would like to remind them that the Gwent levels are more than priceless.”
History proves that building new roads does not ease congestion. It encourages it. The M25 was built to ease congestion. It is now known as London’s car park.
“The plight of the wetlands is right up there with fracking in the front line of climate change. This is where we make the decision to either continue polluting, or take responsibility for the legacy we leave the next generation, and clean up our act.”
The Wales Leader added, “The Welsh Government tells us that the M4 around Newport gives uncertain journey times. I would like to remind them that all car journeys have a degree of uncertainty in them, whereas a bicycle, bus or tram journey gives far superior journey certainty.
Sustrans, who promote cycling, walking and sustainable transport in Wales, say lack of information is one of the biggest barriers to sustainable travel. Most people simply do not know the times of the buses from their nearest bus stop, nor do they know where the nearest safe cycle route is or where it connects to.
The M4 consultation ends on December 16th http://www.m4newport.com/ http://www.sustrans.org.uk/wales/what-we-do/communities