A STINGING attack has been launched against Monmouthshire County Council for their support of the preferred proposed M4 relief road.

Mike Smith, a former deputy leader at County Hall, labelled the decision as “outrageous” at the first full council meeting of the new administration last week

The Welsh Government’s “black route” would build a new Junction 23 near Llanfihangel Rogiet, where Mr Smith lives, and would also see land taken from the Llanfihangel Rogiet Conservation Area.

Last May, councillors agreed to support the black route in principle by a close vote of 16 for and 12 against.

But Mr Smith says the plan would undermine the council’s conservation policies in its local development plan (LDP).

He asked councillors: “How can this council support that scheme which is going to see two farms put out of business and four buildings demolished on that route, including a listed building?”

The demolition of the listed Woodlands House was approved by the council’s planning committee in December, subject to the black route’s approval.

Mr Smith has been ever-present at the ongoing relief road inquiry, in Newport, where he has presented his alternative “green route” - one of 22 alternatives to the Welsh Government’s choice.

Addressing the council last week, he added: “When you attend the inquiry for a day and a half presenting our alternative route, and then you get the barristers acting for the Welsh Government throwing in our face the fact that Monmouthshire County Council is perfectly comfortable with putting a junction of this size in a conservation area then clearly it undermines the whole question of whether or not this authority is fulfilling its duties in protecting, enhancing and conserving the conservation area.”

Council chairman councillor Peter Fox said that he wanted the “best route”, be it Mr Smith’s route or another one.

“I’m hoping the inquiry process is robust enough and it’s taken enough evidence from enough people that it should come to an absolutely considered answer which can satisfy the needs of the community, Wales and Monmouthshire,” he added.