Reform MS backs Newport Labour petition
Emily Price
In a post X, sharing a link to the petition, Mr Wright wrote: “To all my fellow residents of Newport I will fight this in the Senedd but could do with your support signing this petition also.”
The petition was launched by the Labour group in Newport in response to comments by Deputy Transport Minister Mark Hooper, who said the closure of some M4 junctions was being considered as part of efforts to ease congestion on the heavily used motorway corridor.
The new Plaid Cymru-led administration says the approach could provide an alternative to the proposed black route relief road – a road scheme that was scrapped by the previous Labour-led government over environmental concerns.
Labour in Newport has warned that junction closures would lead to more congestion and force more traffic onto the city’s local roads – past schools and through small neighbourhoods.
Their Change.Org petition calling on the Welsh Government to halt talks on closing the junctions has gained over 550 signatures so far.
‘Disruption’
It states: “Plaid Cymru has openly admitted that it is considering closing motorway junctions around Newport as a solution to congestion on the M4.
“To be clear, closing junctions would force more traffic onto Newport’s local roads, through our neighbourhoods, past our schools and onto the streets that residents and businesses rely on every day.
“That is simply unacceptable. Newport residents should not be used as an easy out for a Plaid government that pledged to find a solution to congestion on the motorway.
“Shifting traffic off the motorway and onto our already busy streets is not a solution – it is passing the problem on to local communities and to the council’s budget.
“It would mean more congestion, more disruption and more pressure on our city.
“It would affect families, commuters and local businesses, while placing an unnecessary burden on roads that are only now beginning to recover after years of underinvestment by the UK Government.
“We are sending a clear message to the Plaid Cymru Government in Cardiff: Newport will not stand by and let this happen.
“The talk of closing junctions must stop. Plaid Cymru should focus on delivering real solutions to congestion on the M4, not making life harder for people in Newport.
“Newport Labour has long supported a relief road for the city, and we will continue to fight for the infrastructure Newport needs and deserves.
“We will make sure Plaid hears your voice loud and clear.”
Nation.Cymru asked Mr Wright why he was endorsing and promoting a petition launched by a rival party.
We also asked if he had signed it without realising it had been launched by Labour. Mr Wright did not respond.
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Need to properly simulate traffic flows in different configurations rather than guessing.
It will push traffic onto local routes, but it’s going to be a lot cheaper to upgrade those routes and provide viable alternatives to driving in Newport than build a whole new M4. Junction 25 could easily be closed and traffic routed from J25A. You can’t access J25 from the M4 Eastbound anyway and it only adds around half a mile onto a journey for M4 Westbound traffic. Upgrading 25A if necessary make sense as it’s a main access road into Newport City Centre anyway. J27 is the only other good candidate for closure and those communities can be easily… Read more »
Those junctions are also escape routes when traffic is backed up from the tunnels. I jumped off the M4 at least 5 junctions earlier than intended today as all lanes were moving at 20 mph towards Newport. It was actually quicker to go through the city centre.
Therefore both arguments are true. PCs lessening the load on the motorway and Lab’s keep the junctions open. Neither is a practical solution though just like a petition to the Senedd when they are the Senedd.