Statement of evidence

STATEMENT OF EVIDENCE
OBJECTORS ALTERNATIVE PROPOSAL FOR JUNCTION 23A M48/B4245 (CALDICOT) AND M4 ROUTE WEST OF WILCRICK HILL (Green Route)

1.0 The primary reason for producing an alternative junction arrangement to that proposed is motivated by the need to lessen the impact upon the countryside in that area and to remove the visual impact upon the properties at Llanfihangel Rogiet and Undy. It seems to us that there is no logic behind the proposal to “move” junction 23 from its current location to one further east. If the junction is moved, then the motorway services currently at Magor will want to move with it and in addition to that, pressure for further development is likely to emerge with further development proposals similar to what has occurred at Junction 23A. What is now a rural historical location will quickly become “pressurized” to develop into an urbanized business/development park.

2.0 The tiny hamlet of Llanfihangel Rogiet will be swamped if the proposed new junction 23 proceeds as planned. From the consultation document there appears to be no real justification for such a move other than it (the new junction) “…would provide improved access to the Severn Tunnel Junction railway station (and park and ride facilities) and reduce the traffic travelling on the local road network.” ^1. (Para 4.4.19).
3.0 By the developers own admission the new junction “gyratory” is very complex, does “not provide free movement for the west bound slip road from the existing M4 and the new dual carriageway”. ^1. (Para 4.4.70). The design for eastbound traffic is through a “hamburger arrangement”, which on the face of it is extremely complicated. There is a massive land take from the area and a direct impact on Llanfihangel Rogiet Conservation Area with a visual impact on residences in Magor, Undy and Rogiet.
It is difficult to imagine how drivers not familiar with the area and wishing to go to Newport or access the Service area at Magor will cope with such a complex gyratory.
4.0 Our proposal will take considerably less land than the proposed new junction at Llanfihangel Rogiet and the visual impact on the landscape will be almost insignificant such is the proximity between the B4245 and the M48. Our new junction proposal for the B4245 will utilise a massively under-used M48 which probably carries only 10% of the traffic volume that the B4245 currently carries and most if not all of the traffic emanating from Caldicot and the surrounding areas will be able to access the motorway network at that junction instead of travelling further west to Magor.
5.0 In addition there is very likely to be a spin-off benefit for Pwllmeyric (Chepstow), and the St.Lawrence roundabout which experiences severe traffic congestion at peak times. Whilst not directly related to the current proposals for the route of the new M4, traffic from Caldicot and the surrounding areas which currently uses the A48 towards Chepstow to access the M48 at the Severn Bridge are likely to use the new junction at Caldicot thus reducing traffic impact at Pwllmeyric and Chepstow
6.0 Traffic flows arising from the east of Magor would be able to access the motorway network quicker and easier using a more simplified interchange. The traffic would access all points both east and west on the motorway network.
7.0 Although the M4 Relief Motorway scheme is not related to alternative public transport initiatives/developments in the area, such as the rail electrification or the Metro, our proposed alternative junction at Caldicot ties in very neatly with Monmouthshire County Council’s proposed local road improvement scheme to access the Severn Tunnel Junction (STJ) rail station and as such would provide a significant contribution to improving access to that critical and important rail interchange. In fact, our alternative proposal would have significantly more impact on improving the access to STJ than the proposed new Junction 23.
8.0 Traffic from Caldicot, Portskewett and possibly Caerwent would access the A48 (M) at the proposed junction which would reduce the traffic impact in Rogiet, Magor and Undy along the B4245. Our proposed alternative Junction would achieve both of those objectives without destroying the countryside around Llanfhiangel Rogiet and Undy and at considerably less cost.
9.0 Our proposed alternative junction arrangement at the M48/B4245 at Caldicot/Rogiet in conjunction with the retention of the existing Junction 23A provides for ALL movements of traffic both eastbound and westbound. It is simple, there is no significant land take involved; the costs of the interchange must be less than 1/10^th of the cost of the proposed new junction and it utilizes a very much under-used road, the existing M48, which would be re-classified an A road providing immediate access via Junction 23A to the M4 for both eastbound and westbound traffic and via Junction 23A to the M49. Maintaining the existing Junction 23A as the entry and exit for the new M4 would mean that there would be NO adverse impact on the Magor Service area and the surrounding businesses.
10.0 For the alternative junction at Caldicot to work it requires the retention of the existing Junction 23A, so that traffic wishing to access the M4 eastbound and the M49 can do so via junction 23A. The proposed alternative route around the west of Wilcrick Hill (the “Green” route) is not free of adverse environmental impact since it will intrude into the open countryside at Wilcrick and Llandevenny but the impact on the Gwent Levels SSSI will be considerably reduced. There would be no impact upon the village of Magor and therefore all of the objections to the proposed Black route in the Magor area would be resolved.
11.0 The impact on the SSSI would be almost negligible at that point and it is likely that no properties would have to be demolished. In addition, there would be no “12 lane carriageway”, i.e. the existing M4 and proposed “Black route” running alongside each other as they approached Magor. Instead, the existing Junction 23A would be the access for local traffic at Magor wishing to access both the new de-classified trunk road (the present M4) and the new proposed M4 via Wilcrick Hill and Llandevenny.
This proposed alternative route would link up to the proposed Black route at or around the TATA steelworks and then proceed via the “Black” route.

SUMMARY

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  The primary reason for putting forward this alternative route, the “green route” is to present an alternative junction arrangement to the east of Magor to that proposed. All of the objections that are predicated around the proposed scheme route around Magor and the new gyratory junction 23A will be resolved if our proposed alternative is accepted. Magor services and the businesses currently located at Wales 1 business Park will be unaffected.
  

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  Substantial cost savings would be made as a result of adopting this alternative scheme.
  

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  This alternative would have significantly less environmental impact than the proposed junction which is inconsistent with the Welsh Government’s sustainable development duty, climate change commitments and aspirations.
  

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  Traffic congestion in Magor will be considerably eased if our proposed junction at Caldicot is adopted with traffic able to access the motorway network at that location through the new junction on the current M48 which could be re-classified as an A road.
  

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  Very substantial costs savings would be made as a result of NOT constructing a huge complicated new junction at Llanfihangel Rogiet. The resulting land take will be removed and currently viable farming enterprises would be retained. The visual impact of the new proposed junction cannot be over-stated and it goes without saying that our alternative proposal will remove the threat of such a visually intrusive impact on the landscape. The proposed new junction is inconsistent with the Welsh Government’s sustainable development duty and their stated intention to halt the loss of biodiversity.
  

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  The proposed new route west of Wilcrick Hill (“the Green route”) acknowledges the need for an alternative route to the existing M4 but it achieves this without compromising the built-up area of Magor village and the surrounding area.
  

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  The proposed new route to the west of Wilcrick Hill allows the existing Junction 23A to be retained thereby ensuring the future of the M4 Service area and the businesses located at the Wales 1 business park.
  

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  It presents very little, if any intrusion into the Magor SSSI.
  

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  It removes all the threats to the properties in and surrounding Magor and prevents any further blight on that community.
  

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  The land take is reduced significantly.
  

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  The visual impact on the landscape of a 12-lane “super” highway between Undy and Magor would be removed.
  

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  The promoters of this alternative scheme believe that the “Green Route” is a viable alternative to that proposed by the Welsh Government and would meet the objectives of the M4 Corridor east of Magor and the alternative route to the west of Wilcrick Hill at considerably less environmental, social and economic cost.
  

1. 
   Welsh Government M4 Corridor around Newport, Environmental Statement, Volume 1 Chapter 4: Scheme Development and Alternatives Considered (March 2016)
   

Mike & Liz Smith

Graham & Jennifer Wynton

1 & 2 Windmill Cottages

Windmill Lane

Rogiet

Monmouthshire

NP26 3UH
29 September 2016