SIR,

The proposed M4 toll motorway from Magor to

Castleton will cut across 15 miles of the Gwent

Levels,

including six areas designated as Sites of Special

Scientific Interest. 

These support a unique range of animals, birds,

insects and rare plants.  If the motorway is built they

will suffer loss of habitat and be further threatened

by

pollution and road deaths.

 Also, it will encourage the use of private cars at a

time when it is Government policy to reduce

dependence on oil, reduce carbon dioxide emissions,

and encourage the use of public transport. 

It is also at a time when the volume of traffic is

decreasing – a 13% reduction in 2008 as compared

with the previous year was reported only last week.

 So, instead of investing in improved public transport

systems, the National Assembly wants to spend

billions on another new motorway.  OK, the current

M4 has frequent hold ups, but a far cheaper solution

would be a speed limit – easy to enforce and keeps

traffic moving – and has proved highly successful on

the notorious M25.

 You can help to stop the Levels Motorway disaster

by

supporting the Campaign Against Levels Motorway

(CALM) and joining the CALM protest at the Senedd

at

noon on Tuesday, 23rd September. 

Vivien Mitchell

(Monmouth)