'M4 relief road pledges put the whole vision for Metro at risk'

Holly Morgan reports on claims that long-awaited plans for new railway stations could come to a halt if proposals for the M4 relief road are resurrected by manifesto pledges

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Prime Minister Keir Starmer attends a Q&A as he visits Taffs Well Railway Depot as part of the government's 'Get Britain Building' scheme

(Matthew Horwood/Getty Images)

ROMISES to resurrect the defunct M4 relief road plans could jeopardise the already-confirmed plans for five new railway stations in and around Newport, according to a senior councillor who formerly advised the Welsh Government.

Both the Conservative Party and Reform UK have pledged in their manifestos for the upcoming Senedd election in May to construct an M4 relief road encircling the city.

The two parties have also committed to tax reductions, raising questions about how a new motorway would be financed.

Meanwhile, Reform, which had proposed a toll road, stated it will establish a board to examine all funding possibilities.

However, Monmouthshire County Council's deputy leader Paul Griffiths cautioned that the five new stations, including the promised 'walkway' station in Magor and Undy, could be endangered if plans for a relief road are revived.

Construction on new railway stations across Newport is scheduled to start this year with Magor and Undy expected to be the first to reach completion.

As part of the UK Government's 'Get Britain Building" scheme, the Prime Minister announced these plans to support jobs and improve commutes for people in Wales.