Relief road pledge could put five proposed rail stations at risk

Promises to revive the abandoned M4 relief road pose a threat to confirmed plans for five new rail stations in and around Newport. 

That was the warning from a senior councillor who was previously an advisor to the Welsh Government.  

Both the Conservative Party and Reform UK have promised to build an M4 relief road around the city in their manifestos for May’s Senedd election. 

The two parties have also promised to cut taxes leading to questions on how a new motorway would be paid for while Reform, which had suggested a toll road with drivers charged per trip, said it will set up a board to look at all funding options. 

But Monmouthshire County Council deputy leader Paul Griffiths warned the five new stations, including the promised ‘walkway’ station in Magor and Undy would be at risk if plans for a relief road are revived. 

The Chepstow Labour councillor said the stations are a first step in improving transport connections between Cardiff and Newport and beyond to Bristol and the West Country. 

But he said the vision is dependent on funding and plans being “redveloped and represented”. 

That includes better connecting the existing Severn Tunnel Junction station, in line with plans put forward by the council, so that it is a “real rail hub, properly linked to the motorway network, a South Wales Parkway”. 

He said the decision by former first minister Mark Drakeford, in 2019, to pull the plug on the proposed relief road on cost and environmental grounds was crucial. 

Cllr Griffiths said: “We owe some gratitude to Mark Drakeford who took the brave step of not investing billions in an attempted road solution, with a so called M4 relief road and instead directing money into public transport, sustainable solutions. 

“And there lies the risk because there are politicians lining up at the next Senedd election, from a whole variety of parties, to undue that vision and to re-direct the investment back into mile upon mile of six lane motorways around South Wales. 

“If that happens we will be putting at risk the specific achievement of the Magor Walkway, but at risk also that whole vision of a metro across South East Wales. The stakes are high.” 

Last week, launching Welsh Labour’s Senedd campaign in Newport, first minister Eluned Morgan ruled out the possibility of promised UK Government funding for rail being diverted to a relief road. Ms Morgan was asked if any of the £14bn pipeline for potential rail projects could be reallocated in light of the Labour leader of Newport City Council stating a relief road would still be required along with other public transport improvements. 

Cllr Griffiths, who used to lead a team of advisors to former first minister Rhodri Morgan that included Mr Drakeford, was speaking as the council discussed a motion to congratulate the Magor Action on Rail Group (MAGOR) that campaigned for the new station. 

Cllr Griffiths praised the campaigners but said it wasn’t an achievement in isolation but a result of the Welsh Government investing in a massive upgrade of the Valley Lines, which he said made it possible for the council to argue for a South East Wales metro also with trains every 15 minutes to Cardiff. 

The full council unanimously approved the motion brought by Independent member for Magor West, Frances Taylor who is also a member of the campaign group established in 2012. 

She said it had only learned Magor will be among the first of five stations, which also include Llanwern, Newport West and Somerton as well as Cardiff East, from journalists ahead of the announcement by prime minister Keir Starmer in February. 

But she said Magor, unlike the other stations, isn’t reliant on upgrade to the relief line and the motion called for construction work to start now rather than the promised completion date of by 2029. 

Cllr Taylor also said the council should lobby for its name to be Magor & Undy Walkway station, in recognition, of it being designed for commuters to walk to it and for the council to start work on traffic orders to prevent inappropriate parking in the area. Cllr Taylor said the council should wait until after May’s Senedd elections before it lobbies government in both Cardiff and London.