A PUBLIC inquiry into the proposed M4 relief road has heard that the hamlet of Llanfihangel Rogiet would be “swamped” if the current scheme goes ahead as planned.

On 27th and 28th April, the inquiry heard the case for a proposed ‘green route’ by Llanfihangel Rogiet residents Mike and Liz Smith and Graham and Jennifer Wynton.

The green route is one of 22 alternative routes the independent inspectors will examine during the five month public inquiry. The alternative routes have been proposed by objectors to the current scheme favoured by the Welsh Government, the ‘Black Route’.

The green route would start west of junction 23A, follow the eastern side of Llanwern Steelworks, before rejoining the proposed Black Route. The green route proposes an alternative junction arrangement at the M48/B4245 with the retention of the existing junction 23A.

This would remove plans in the scheme for a new junction at Llanfihangel Rogiet, which were described by objectors as “extremely complicated.”

The objectors say there is “no logic behind the proposal to move junction 23 from its current location”, and the green route would instead utilise a “massively under-used M48”, and improve access to Magor Services. The green route would avoid the need to demolish the Grade II listed Woodland House at Magor, and reduce construction on the Gwent Levels.

The route would add 0.95km to the existing planned scheme, and the Welsh Government estimates that the additional cost would be £51m higher than the current scheme.

The public inquiry will continue until the end of June.