Fears that M4 relief road could cost Newport docks £30m

Newport docks could lose up to £30m in investments when the controversial M4 relief road is built through the site, it has been claimed.

The Welsh government plans to address M4 traffic problems with a new 14-mile road from Magor to Castleton, which will include a bridge over the docks.

Matthew Kennerley, director of Associated British Ports in south Wales, said that if the bridge was not high enough, it may leave up to 60% of ships unable to use the site.

He believes this could cost Wales' busiest commercial port "huge sums".

Currently the port handles 1.85 million tonnes of goods a year, said to be worth £186m annually to the Welsh economy.