The members of an independent commission tasked with finding alternative solutions to growing congestion on the M4 in South Wales - following the decision of the Welsh Government not to proceed with a £1.3bn motorway relief road south of Newport - have been revealed.
The original position of the government was that the South East Wales Transport Commission, chaired by former chairman of Glas Cymru Lord Terry Burns, would have produced an interim report by the end of the year.
That is now not expected to happen until next spring, a time lag that has been criticised by the Welsh Conservatives ‑ although the Welsh Government said there will be a first update from the commission by year end.
First Minister Mark Drakeford, despite the findings of inspector’s report concluding that a new motorway relief road, the so called Black Route, was the only viable solution to addressing growing congestion levels, rejected the project in June on cost and environmental grounds.
Economy and Transport Minister Ken Skates has now confirmed that the commission, as well as its chair, consists of:
- Peter Jones, professor of transport and sustainable development at University College London.
- Lynn Sloman, founder and director of Transport for Quality of Life, a specialist environmental and sustainable transport consultancy.
- Stephen Gifford, transport economist and National Infrastructure Commission for Wales member.
- Elaine Seagriff, a strategic transport planner, with Transport for London with experience in developing sustainable and integrated strategy for the city.
- James Davies, a businessman and chair of Industry Wales and a member of the Economy and Transport Ministerial Advisory Board.
- Jen Heal, design adviser for the Design Commission for Wales and an experienced urban designer.
- Beverly Owen strategic director for place, which includes regeneration, environment and transport strategy, for Newport City Council.
Mr Skates, said: “I remain committed to taking an inclusive, and collaborative approach to finding innovative, affordable and sustainable solutions in the shortest possible timescale and the commission will be working with stakeholders to achieve that ambition.
"I look forward to receiving the commission’s first update at the end of this year."
However, Welsh Conservative Shadow Transport and Economy Minister, Russell George, said: “The Welsh Government have spent nearly four months trying to find and appoint commissioners for the South East Wales Transport Commission, and it seems that only after it was raised in the media and by the Welsh Conservative Leader Paul Davies AM in the Assembly that finally some action has taken place.
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“Labour’s transport minister says that he is looking forward to receiving the commission’s update at the end of the year, but makes no mention of when the commission will report publicly. Initially, the Welsh Government were going to report back by the end of the year.
"It’s clear that the people of Newport won’t find out what this failing Welsh Labour Government will do until the spring of next year, giving the Welsh Government plenty of time to argue again over the amount of money the commission will be able to spend to end the daily congestion on the M4.”