M4 decisions should be taken by new First Minister, says Rhun ap Iorwerth

Plaid Cymru Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for any decisions regarding the proposed M4 relief road should be postponed until a new First Minister of Wales is appointed in a few weeks time.

In a Plaid Cymru debate in the Assembly Chamber this afternoon Mr ap Iorwerth, the party’s Shadow spokesperson for Economy and Finance, outlined the party’s position on the proposed ‘black route’ and said that any decisions on whether to go ahead with the new development should be left to the new First Minister of Wales.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“We recognise and realise that there is work to do to make the road network in south-east Wales more resilient, that there is room to invest substantially in doing that, but we aren’t convinced that pursuing the black route is the way to do it.

“There are financial arguments to support our stance on this – why commit so much money towards one road when there are other ways to operate – and very strong environmental ones too. We believe there is a way to be more innovative and propose a 21st-century solution to this problem.

“The First Minister is the one who will make the decision regarding whether to support this proposal or not after looking at all of the evidence, but there is a very important context here in that there will be a new First Minister confirmed in the next few weeks and it should be their decision whether to go ahead with this proposal or not.

“We believe the decision on this should be taken by the new First Minister. There is so much at stake for the future of spending in Wales, the environment in Wales, the future generations in Wales – let’s see ownership of that decision by the new, incoming, First Minister of Wales.“