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03/04/2013
Chancellor Supports M4 Road Improvements
Chancellor George Osborne has said the proposed M4 relief road in South Wales is one of the most important road schemes in the UK.
However he added that the idea of motorists paying a toll to drive on the motorway did not come from the UK Government. The Welsh Government has dismissed the idea of imposing a toll.
Mr Osborne said there was a “strong case” for the project and he was working with the Welsh government.
Plans to ease congestion on the stretch of motorway in south-east Wales was first revealed in 2004. The idea was then dropped in 2009 when the estimated cost increased to £1bn.
Talks have since been underway between the UK and Welsh governments about ways to find the improvements. It is believed an agreement in principle has been reached, but funding hasn't been finalised.
During a visit to Cardiff, Osborne also clarified the issue regarding the supposed toll charge.
He said: "I hope the road is going to get built and I think there's a very strong case. I think it's one of the most important road schemes in the whole of the United Kingdom. I think it would be of huge benefit to south Wales.
"We're working with the Welsh assembly government. I don't know where this idea of a toll road has come from. It's been mis-reported in the papers. It's certainly never anything I've considered, so I was reading about it in the press and couldn't work out where it had come from.
"But I'm clear we can work with the Welsh assembly government to get the funding for this road and improve it. And of course it's up to the Welsh assembly government whether they want to do any tolls, but it's certainly not something I'm asking for."
(JP/CD)
However he added that the idea of motorists paying a toll to drive on the motorway did not come from the UK Government. The Welsh Government has dismissed the idea of imposing a toll.
Mr Osborne said there was a “strong case” for the project and he was working with the Welsh government.
Plans to ease congestion on the stretch of motorway in south-east Wales was first revealed in 2004. The idea was then dropped in 2009 when the estimated cost increased to £1bn.
Talks have since been underway between the UK and Welsh governments about ways to find the improvements. It is believed an agreement in principle has been reached, but funding hasn't been finalised.
During a visit to Cardiff, Osborne also clarified the issue regarding the supposed toll charge.
He said: "I hope the road is going to get built and I think there's a very strong case. I think it's one of the most important road schemes in the whole of the United Kingdom. I think it would be of huge benefit to south Wales.
"We're working with the Welsh assembly government. I don't know where this idea of a toll road has come from. It's been mis-reported in the papers. It's certainly never anything I've considered, so I was reading about it in the press and couldn't work out where it had come from.
"But I'm clear we can work with the Welsh assembly government to get the funding for this road and improve it. And of course it's up to the Welsh assembly government whether they want to do any tolls, but it's certainly not something I'm asking for."
(JP/CD)
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Scrapping the Severn bridges toll could boost the Welsh economy by £107m, according to a government report. First Minister Carwyn Jones believes control of the bridges should be transferred from the UK government to the Welsh government by 2018. The Welsh government report says businesses and consumers spend £80m a year crossing the Severn bridges.
13 May 2011
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15 April 2010
Move To Ease M4 Congestion
The Welsh Assembly has completed the purchase of the Queensway road from Corus as part of its strategy to improve congestion on the M4. Plans will now be drawn up to see how the road, which passes through the Llanwern steel works, can be improved to allow public traffic to use the route. The aim is to upgrade the road to a dual carriageway.
Move To Ease M4 Congestion
The Welsh Assembly has completed the purchase of the Queensway road from Corus as part of its strategy to improve congestion on the M4. Plans will now be drawn up to see how the road, which passes through the Llanwern steel works, can be improved to allow public traffic to use the route. The aim is to upgrade the road to a dual carriageway.
23 October 2015
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A reward of £20,000 has been offered for information leading to a conviction for the 2010 murder of 16-year-old Samuel Adelagun in Plaistow. Police have renewed their appeal on the murder of the teenager and the attempted murder of his 15-year-old friend on Saturday, 23 October 2010.
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18 November 2013
Call For Drivers To Tune In To Road Safety
A national campaign launched today by the charity Brake at the start of Road Safety Week calls on drivers to tune in to road safety, to prevent appalling crashes caused by multi-tasking at the wheel.
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Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
