5. 4. Statement: The Public Local Inquiry on the M4 at Newport

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:26 pm on 21 June 2016.

Alert me about debates like this

Photo of Adam Price Adam Price Plaid Cymru 3:26, 21 June 2016

Can I return to the issue raised by John Griffiths of the impact of the proposed metro for south-east Wales on the future levels of traffic in the region? The construction of a similar transport system for Bordeaux, which Welsh fans will have been able to see at first-hand recently, of course, has actually reduced traffic levels by 40 per cent since 2005. Now, if we were even able to achieve half of that in south-east Wales, it would substantially undermine the rationale that the Government has produced in terms of its preferred black route. So, can we have an independent assessment of the impact of the metro on future traffic levels? And can the Secretary also explain the interrelationship between the inquiry that he has outlined and also the parallel process with Natural Resources Wales, which have to grant a licence, of course, under the habitats directive—because there are European protected species present—for this development to proceed? They’ve said in their own objection that they are not persuaded that the conditions necessary for that licence are currently met. If that doesn’t change, can he confirm that, whatever the inquiry says, he won’t be able to grant permission for the black route to proceed?