Capturing Cardiff: M4 Relief Road

Does South Wales need another motorway?

The need for a new road to relieve traffic around Newport is being planned by the Assembly. The road would ease congestion and help build the Welsh economy, according to government ministers.



Environmentalists argue it would have devastating effects on the Gwent Levels, a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) and the largest of it's kind in Wales.

Why do the Assembly want to build another road?

At the moment, anyone who commutes by car along the M4 will know about the congestion between junctions 24 and 28 in rush hour. As traffic hits the outskirts of Newport at peak times it often comes to a standstill with tailbacks trailing for miles. A commute from Cardiff can take up to an hour.

The congestion actually raises green house emissions as cars slow down to a stop and start pattern. With this, the number of accidents increases as cars bump into each other, causing further delays.

A new 24km relief road to the south of the city between junctions 23a and 29 would free up traffic flow and encourage more business into South Wales from England.


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The new road, planned for a 2010 start, would create jobs for the local economy. As with most major roads, developments are being planned alongside including a housing development in the old steel works and industry in the docks.

So, what’s all the fuss about?

The Gwent Levels are home to the UK’s largest surviving areas of ancient grazing marshes and a complex system of ‘reens’ (drainage ditches). The reens are vital for the survival of unique and rare wildlife which will be irreparably damaged if the road goes ahead.

Rare wetland plants and invertebrates live in the reens and feed the rest of the ecosystem including otters, water voles and breeding waders.

The contaminated runoff from the motorway will pollute the reen system and seriously affect the water quality the wetland depends on. As the reens are all connected, the pollution will not only affect the areas surrounding the road but the entire system. Rarer invertebrates so integral to this system cannot tolerate any level of pollution which could cause the system to collapse.

The fast moving road will also impose a danger to mobile animals, such as otters, attempting to cross it.

What about the bigger picture?

Friends of the Earth argue building roads actually generates more traffic as people, encouraged by a free flowing road, are more likely to drive to work. The more traffic there is, the more CO2 entering the atmosphere adding to global warming.

14% of Welsh climate change emissions come from transport which would be more than likely to increase if the road is built. The Assembly’s Climate Change Strategy pledges to cut green house emissions by 3% each year until 2011. It even states transport emissions will stabilise then start to decline over the next ten years. The increased traffic from the new road would jeopardise these targets.

What’s the alternative?

Bore a tunnel at Brynglas
This was dismissed by the government back in the 1990s for being too expensive and the technology simply wasn’t developed enough. That was 12 years ago and hasn’t been readdressed by the Assembly since. Tunnelling engineers have told Friends of the Earth the technology is now available and not as expensive as previously thought. This could be a less intrusive alternative to the new road in the long term but could cause delays in the short.

Better Public Transport
Environmentalists argue one of the best ways to decrease emissions is to improve local public transport. At the moment, some villages like Magor have no train station to connect them with Newport or Cardiff despite a railway line running through the village. By improving rail links from the north into Newport together with a faster service connecting Newport and Cardiff to Bristol and London would immediately be a more attractive alternative to travelling by road.

Speed Controls
These have been an effective tool used on the M25. Special technology monitors traffic flow and can even predict where problems can happen. In busy times, traffic is reduced to 40 miles per hour. The journey home maybe longer but it would be smoother. With less stop and start movement emissions will be less too.

Southern Distributor Road already used by commuters as an escape from the busy M4 in rush hour, could be widened to create a better relief road. It would cause less impact on the surrounding area than a new road would.

What happens next?
In March the Business Case will be published outlining how the government propose to pay for the road. One way of paying could be in the form of a toll, like Birmingham’s M6 toll road. If this idea is taken on then commuters and businesses travelling from England may find themselves paying a double fee (including the Severn Bridge Toll) to enter Wales which could drive business away.

The recession could be the key factor in deciding whether the road goes ahead. Current economic climes suggest that the cost of it, predicted to be between £700million and £1billion could see the plans scrapped by the government. It really depends if the need to create jobs and develop the Welsh economy outweigh the cost to build it. Only then will the surrounding environment be called into question.

Anything but chips and chains!

Back in my home town of Worthing for Christmas I was looking for a decent place to meet with a friend for lunch. In the past Worthing has had few cafes that offer good lunches that weren't pubs, chains or chippies. For those who aren't familiar with the town, Worthing is a pleasant enough seaside resort and for that reason has become the retiree's destination of choice. Unfortunately growing up in Worthing meant we were denied fresh, modern and inspirational cuisine and instead were offered the traditional tourists favourite of greasy fish and chips or a stodgy fifties fare.

But thank god Brighton's influence is finally spilling over into this sleepy seaside resort. My friend and I caught up at Pestle and Morter in Portland Place over pot after pot of green tea. The cafe used to be a pub we frequented as teenagers, then turned into a Thai restaurant which in my opinion says a lot about the town - it just oozes tackiness.

The menu was promising. It was fresh with many of the ingredients sourced locally. The cafe specialises in local cheeses and there is an impressive cheese counter. We both chose mackerel and avocado salad, which was simple and light, although covered in too much dressing. The bread served alongside wasn't the best, and seemed to me to be shop bought. This was despite the homemade offerings sold at the counter. It was only when paying did I notice the amazing looking cakes on sale, ranging from blueberry scones to carrot cake.

Worthing maybe half way there to getting a decent local lunch venue, but it still has a lot to learn from Brighton's cafe culture.

Got it Sussed

The economic recession may actually be having a positive effect on the environment. As purses tighten, shoppers are looking for cheaper ways of living. Starting with the most important of all: food.

Contrary to popular opinion, buying local and organic food can be a cheaper way of living. Fresh local produce is reasonably priced as it's in season and doesn't have to travel far. And buying food by weight rather than pre-packed gives the consumer the choice of how much they actually want, causing less waste from both the food and the packaging.

As the economic downturn sets in, it is much cheaper to buy raw ingredients and cook up a healthy and cheap meal. This maybe common sense, but in today's world of fast food and ready meals, not many of us are taking the time to cook a wholesome family meal.

And eating organically in restaurants and cafes needn't be a drain on finances. Last night I attended the SUSSED Ethical Feast at Coast restaurant in Porthcawl. The ethical feast sourced produce that was local, organic and fairtrade where possible. Upon arrival we were all given a glass on Fairtrade wine, which was a brilliant Sauvignon Blanc and can be found at Co-op. After being taken to our tables, we were presented with canapes and a homemade seeded roll. But it was the starter that excited me: Swansea Bay Mussels served with a Mariniere sauce of garlic, onion and Welsh cream. The French wouldn't be disappointed with this Welsh alternative. The main course was a choice of Steamed Halibut Fillet with Candied Lemon, Potato & Truffle Puree, Steamed Swansea Cockles, Shellfish Bisque & Crispy Seaweed; Pan Roasted Organic Chicken Breast with Braised Leeks, Roasted Baby Potatoes & Perl Las Blue Cheese Sauce; or Creamy Wild Mushrooms with Linguini Pasta & Glazed Tintern Cheese, Green Herb Salad. Again I went for the fish, which was perfectly cooked and the creamy mash melted in my mouth. The tomato bisque was a perfect compliment to the white fish. The finale was only going to be one option for me: an Assiette of Chocolate; Warm Chocolate Cake, White Chocolate Ice cream, Chocolate Panacotta & Chocolate Sauce. So indulgent and completely divine. It was simply a taste of heaven in my mouth. Saying this, my companion went for the selection of Welsh cheeses of which were equally delicious. A perfect end to a pretty much perfect meal....or so we thought. Coffees were served with homemade biscotti and fairtrade petit fours and by the this time I was struggling to fit them in. But of course I managed.

The whole evening was an explosion of fresh flavours, textures and tastes. Whatever people say about organic and local produce, you really can tell the difference. When it comes to food, quality really does over ride quantity. Going back to my point earlier the whole night came to just £27.50. This just proves that organic food doesn't have to cost the earth.

Keeping the markets alive

Today I visited Riverside market in Cardiff which offers great local produce from organic meat and veg to yummy cakes and bread. Farmers markets are a brilliant way to get the freshest veg at a reasonable price as well as helping the local economy. At the start of this economic downturn, it is really important for us to help local businesses stay alive. Unfortunately as many of us turn our backs on organic for the cheaper options of Aldi or Lidl, farmers markets are beginning to feel the pinch. In my opinion it is always important to make sure your feeding yourselves and family well rather than opting for the cheaper option of pesticide riddled food which is usually transported hundreds of miles.

We may see a change in shopping habits during the recession which will return to the days of quality and not quantity. Hopefully this will help organic farming. In terms of clothing I think this will certainly be the case. Shopping habits are slowly changing as people are more inclined to buy a few key wardrobe items that will last. I wonder whether people will start to realise this in terms of food production too.

Inspired by my visit, I popped into Shared Earth for a spot of Christmas shopping. It has a great range of gift items from jewellery to wooden crafts. What's more you can be safe in the knowledge that the gifts were made in the best conditions and those who made them were paid fairly for there work. I also spotted Kate Lock's book 'Confessions of an eco-shopper' which I hope will help me in my quest to become a more eaware in my shopping habits.

To go veggie or not

When I became vegetarian it was my choice. I was 12 and already developed a dislike to red meat, but when faced with snails on a school trip to France my meat eating days were over. It may have been a slightly extreme action to take to avoid snails but I have never looked back. Growing up, both me and my two sisters were veggie. My dad soon followed and then my mum partly for health reasons. My brother didn't really get a choice after that. Only one meal a night served in this household thank you.

Now as adults we are faced with a tough decision to make. Should we feed our kids meat or should we give them a choice? My sister had a baby over a year ago and was adamant that her children were only going to eat organic and vegetarian food. Unfortunately her baby has developed a love for turkey twizzlers and beef stew thanks to his naughty child minder! Some meat eating friends argued with me that you should give your kids a choice as you could alienate them growing up. This is one of my sisters fears as she doesn't want to her son to be the 'difficult' child at birthday parties.

Out of my class of thirty, around half of us are veggie which is very unusual amongst the average population (I have a theory that journalists have a more open view of the world, as with vegetarians!). However what I'm getting at is that being a veggie growing up today is a much easier option. than it was only ten years ago! Firstly there is definitely more choice in restaurants and supermarkets for us veggies (although the veggie option at most restaurants still tends to be focused around goats cheese - stacks, pastas and tarts to name but a few way). Increasingly people are becoming aware of where their meat is coming from, thanks to the likes of Hugh and Jamie, and opt for free range/organic or avoid it altogether. And now a growing number of people choose to eat veggie because, as one friend told me this evening, it was cheaper.

Going back to my question of whether we should bring our kids up veggie or not depends on what values you wish to teach them. As a veggie you can still have a varied diet and get all the protein, vitamins and minerals you need, so no need to worry there. The world in which our children will live suffers from food shortages and climate change. Both of which can be helped by being veggie. Did you know the biggest contributor to global warming was from the methane produced by farming cows - more than aviation and car fumes put together!? To feed 100 people you only need an acre of wheat, whereas the same amount of land would only feed 3 if it was used for grazing cows? These issues must be addressed so that future generations can enjoy the same lives that we have so far. So in answer to my question, make sure the decision you make for your kids has their children's best intentions too.

Keeping it Organic

During the credit crunch organic farmers and traders are feeling the pinch as consumers move away from the more expensive organic and fair trade produce. This may seem like a logical idea to save the pennies, but in times of financial crisis the environment and health should not be ignored. Where has everyone's conscience gone? Over the last few years organic produce has seen a huge growth as people are becoming aware of the environment. Now all this hard work seems to be going down the pan.

I enjoyed a cheap and healthy lunch today at The Hungry Planet an organic and fairtrade cafe shop in Splott. Owner Christopher took time to explain that during these difficult times people should take a wider look at their spending. A couple of pints less a week or a takeaway could amount to the difference in what an organic fruit and veg box would cost. With these ingredients you could make healthy and sustainable meals every night of the week. For obvious reasons these would offer better health benefits too. Another suggestion he had was to stick to local organic produce. It's in season, so in abundance and cheaper. Also your saving the air miles by choosing local over say blueberries from South America. Roath Market is a great place to find a good deal on cheap local organic veg.

One more thing, which I thought was brilliant! The Hungry Planet offer a scoop and weigh service, so you can buy exactly what you need instead of ending up with surplus ingredients. They sell most cupboard items, but also include herbs and spices! One more tip to help save money - plan you weekly meals before hitting the shops. That way you wont end up buying random things you will only end up throwing away!

HAPPY SHOPPING!

Christmas Presents!

In my bid to try and have an environmentally friendly Christmas, I decided to visit the Sustainable Wales Christmas Market in Porthcawl yesterday. I went looking for present ideas that would be free from mass produced toys made in China and the usual 3 for 2 Boots selection boxes. I wasn't disappointed. The Sustainable Wales stall had loads of great items for kids, with toys made from sustainable wood, bibs from organic cotton and hand knitted gloves. When it comes to present buying, one of my favourite items usually involve food, especially homemade jams and pickles, which always prove popular with a grandparent. Freecycle were there with a range of great presents to pick for free. But I also think it will be an even better site to go on post Christmas for all those unwanted gifts!

The fair inspired me to re-think what I will be buying for my family and friends this year, but in particularly what I wont be buying. Christmas has turned into a commercial enterprise which most shops rely on each year to boost their sales. This year more and more people are turning their backs on the high streets and really beginning to think about how they can give presents that are not only environmentally friendly and cost effective, but can also be original.

So here are are my tips for eco friendly and cost effective Christmas presents:

1. Freecycle - keep a check of whats on the site in your area. At the moment there have been bikes, chocolate fondue sets and board games!

2. Try to buy fairtrade to ensure that your gifts have been bought a fair and reasonable price.

3. You don't have to go without buying your dad the usual woolen socks, but chose ones that are made from organic cotton or even try to knit a pair!

4. Charity shops are cheap and environmentally friendly. This year it's all about going vintage! Customise bags, clothes and shoes to give your friends a truly unique present!

5. Buy locally - keep a check on your airmiles by choosing to shop locally and not online. Each time you buy something online, your carbon footprint increases with the distance those presents have to travel.

6. Make your own! From chutneys to truffles, everyone loves a foodie gift! Check out how to make these gingerbread twists!

7. Give away your time. For example, an evening babysitting or teaching your dad how to blog!

8. Buy a goat or fix a well, Oxfam offer presents for those who need them most ranging from £5 upwards.

9. Talking of animals, why not buy a couple of chickens to roam around your parents garden. Not only can you use the compost they produce for your vegetables, they give a daily present of fresh eggs!

10. When it comes to wrapping your presents, use old newspapers! A kitch way to recycle!