Summary of Key Reasons Why the M4 Black Route Should Not Go Ahead

Summary of Key Reasons why the M4 ‘Black Route’ should not go ahead

·  The proposed motorway route would cut through and permanently damage four Gwent Levels Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and cross the River Usk Special Area of Conservation (SAC). It would destroy a section of Magor Marsh Nature Reserve and pass close to the Newport Wetlands National Nature Reserve. There is also the potential for negative impacts on the Severn Estuary Special Protection Area (SPA), SAC, and Ramsar site, through disturbance and habitat loss for key bird populations and the risk of pollution filtering through the SSSI reen system to the Severn Estuary.

·  The M4 CaN scheme would result in gross damage to protected and conservation priority species populations and their habitats including European protected species – Otter, Dormouse, bats, Water Vole, Badger, Hedgehog, reptiles, Great Crested Newt, Cetti’s Warbler, Barn Owl, wintering birds, freshwater and migratory fish including Sea Lamprey, River Lamprey, Twaite Shad, Allis Shad, Atlantic Salmon, European Eel, Sea Trout, Shrill Carder Bee, other terrestrial invertebrates, and all the freshwater aquatic invertebrates and aquatic plants for which the Gwent Levels has been notified.

·  The M4 CaN scheme will result in the severance and damage to key wildlife corridors used by UK protected species, European protected species and SPA/SAC species including damaging the Ebbw SINC/ Usk SAC and adjacent grazing marsh wildlife corridor leading to the Severn Estuary SAC.

·  The M4CaN scheme will permanently damage a range of important wildlife habitats including:

-  A total of at least 125 hectares of SSSI habitats including grazing marsh and reedbed lost or permanently damaged.

-  Permanent damage to nine Sites of Importance for Nature Conservation (SINC’s).

-  Permanent loss of a section of our Magor Marsh Nature Reserve.

-  Loss of 2568m of SSSI reen and 9136m of SSSI field ditch, which would be infilled or culverted.

-  Habitat and species loss outside of ‘protected areas’ which has not been quantified but is also substantial.

-  The cumulative and in combination impacts of planning applications and local authority allocations in this special protected area are considerable both past and present yet the Welsh Government is taking no action to control it and instead is proposing more damage to this protected area.

·  The proposals for mitigation are grossly inadequate.

We therefore reject and strongly oppose the M4 CaN ‘Black Route’ Scheme.

Furthermore, we would argue that this damaging proposal should be shelved and available funds shifted to sustainable transport initiatives including the Metro scheme and funding of the ‘blue route’.

Finally, we are appealing directly to you as an Assembly Member and member of Welsh Government that - in the interests of wildlife and present and future generations - instead of furthering historic damage to the Gwent Levels you should seek to work with the three Local Authorities to conserve and manage this special area in a sustainable way into the future, and take pride that this wonderful place is in Wales.