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Newport owner to object to ‘devastating’ road plan
[ April 28, 2016 // Chris ]Associated British Ports (ABP) is to make a formal objection to the Welsh Government and the Secretary of State for Transport against the compulsory purchase of approximately 87 acres of land through the centre of the Port of Newport for a road scheme.
ABP says its operations in Newport support around 3,000 jobs and contribute £186 million annually to the Welsh economy, believes that the loss of land at the port to the 6-lane M4 relief road scheme, coupled with the damaging impact on operations, will have long-lasting, irreparable consequences and the Welsh economy.
Director of Associated British Ports South Wales, Matthew Kennerley, commented: “The loss of almost 20% of our total land area would be a potentially devastating blow for the Port of Newport. The route corridor will cut right through the heart of the port, effectively severing it in two, and imposing a critical height restriction on access to the North Dock which would physically exclude around 50% of vessels that currently utilise this area.”
He added that ABP has repeatedly expressed its serious concern about the plan and now had no option but to object formally to the proposed M4 route.
It would have a major impact on investment, development and expansion plans in the future.
Kennerley said that viable alternatives to the proposed route exist that would not seriously affect Wales’ most strategically important general cargo port.