A 500-year-old ancient monument near Rogiet will be pulled from the ground if current M4 relief road plans go ahead.

Details of buildings due to be demolished to make way for the M4 relief road’s proposed ‘black route’ were released last week. They include a Grade II listed property and an ancient monument known as the Devil’s Quoit.

A full report of buildings and land that Welsh Government will need to purchase in order to build the £1 billion road was released last Thursday (24th March).

The list, which includes 12 residential properties, names the Grade II listed former vicarage in Magor and an ancient standing stone between Rogiet and Undy which historians think was placed in 1606 to mark the Severn Floods. The stone, which is 2.4 metres tall, is a scheduled ancient monument and is protected by Cadw.

A draft order for what has been described as the ‘black route’ was published by Welsh Government earlier this month (10th March).

The route, which would create a six-lane motorway running from the current Junction 23A Magor to Junction 29 at Castleton, is expected to cost in excess of £1 billion, with an estimated cost of £92 million for land and compensation.

A decision whether or not to hold a Public Local Inquiry will be made in summer 2016. If Welsh Ministers decide to proceed with the scheme, it could start construction in spring 2018.

The new section of motorway is expected to open in autumn 2021. Reclassification works to the existing M4 would be complete in autumn 2022.

Concerns were raised earlier this month about the future of jobs at Magor Services. The current plans for the new road do not provide access to the services, and Monmouthshire County Council agreed recently to write to Welsh Government to seek clarification about the site’s future.

Copies of the draft orders, Environmental Statement and supporting information are available during normal office hours at Monmouthshire County Council, County Hall, Rhadyr, Usk, NP15 1GA or Monmouthshire County Council, Innovation House, Wales 1 Business Park, Magor, Monmouthshire, NP26 3DG.

More information about the plans can also be viewed at www.gov.wales/m4newport.