CALLS have been made for the Welsh Government to “come clean” and consider other options to a £1.4 billion relief road for the M4.

It is understood that Assembly Members will be given a vote on plans for a relief road, after several AMs from opposition parties and some Labour backbenchers called for a vote upon completion of the ongoing public inquiry.

The Welsh Government’s preferred route south of Newport, known as the ‘Black Route’ passes through Magor, with compulsory purchase orders issued to the Grade II listed Magor Vicarage, Magor Brewery and nearby business park, and around 20 residential properties.

Monmouth AM Nick Ramsay, told the Beacon it would be “reasonable” for AMs to get a vote on the route, and called for the Welsh Government to “come clean” on “spiralling” costs.

In December a senior Welsh Government official told AMs the ‘Black Route’ could cost more than £1.4bn when considering the impact of VAT. This followed an earlier statement from Cabinet Secretary for Economy and Transport Ken Skates stating that works to fit in with Newport Docks would cost the project an extra £136m and delay it by 18 months.

“I think it’s reasonable that Assembly Members get a vote on the M4 relief road given the spiralling costs of the project and the need to ensure value for money,” said Mr Ramsay.

“We definitely need to deal with peak-time congestion around Newport and that solution must include road improvements.

“However there are clearly now serious questions about the Black Route’s affordability and whether the Welsh Government is actually in a position to deliver it at all.

“It looks like the new motorway will cost well over £1 billion, absorbing most of the Welsh Government’s capital budget and all of the new borrowing powers.

“The last thing commuters need now is more delays in developing a viable solution.

“The Welsh Government should come clean on the cost of this project and look at other potential solutions (including the Blue Route ‘overflow’ proposal) that can provide a sustainable solution to this long running and deeply frustrating problem.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “The Welsh Government will table a debate on the M4 plans later this year.”