The leader of the Brexit party group in the Senedd, Mark Reckless said:

“The first minister could have loosened the M4 Brynglas choke point around two thirds of the Welsh economy. Instead he is choosing to tighten it further indefinitely.

"The economic cost of this decision will be greater than the cost of building the relief road, even ignoring the £44m already spent and now wasted.

"His decision means fewer growing businesses, fewer jobs, lower wages and less prosperity.

It is the people of Newport who now pay the environmental price of terrible congestion and the reduced air quality it engenders.”

The Leader of Newport City Council Debbie Wilcox said she was “disappointed” with the decision, but understands an ‘expert panel’ will now be set up with access to £1bn of funding to assess alternative options.

Councillor Wilcox said: “I understand there is this £1bn investment fund, that can be taken forward and that Newport will be around the table with the experts. The First Minister is going to set up an expert group”.

Cllr Wilcox said that as far as she was concerned all of the previous options, including the so called ‘blue route’ are now back on the table.

They're now seen as a major bottleneck, but were once hailed as the solution to congestion in Newport.

Why not while away the moments until the First Minister's statement on the M4 corridor around Newport with this clip from the BBC Wales archive?

Vincent Kane looks at construction of the Brynglas Tunnels in 1966.

The Future Generations Commissioner said she understands the frustrations of those stuck in motorway congestion - and so investment in viable alternatives was needed quickly.

"If the government is serious about this we need to think of some progressive and innovative ways to make public transport more accessible and affordable," Sophie Howe told BBC Wales.

"It's about winning over the hearts and minds of people who can use public transport [to] get them out of their cars and onto buses and trains."

On the economy she said: "What is clear is that what attracts inward investment to countries is the right set of skills and a focus on getting those skills right..."

First Minister Mark Drakeford is about to make a statement to the Welsh Assembly explaining his decision to scrap the M4 relief road.

Click or tap the Live video link above to watch proceedings live from the Senedd.

The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors said the M4 relief road would have been vital infrastructure for continued economic growth.

"As Wales prepares to leave the EU along with the rest of the UK, the first minister must clearly lay out alternative plans to open Wales up to growth and investment," said policy manager Tamara Hooper.

Wildlife Trusts Wales are delighted the new road will not be built.

"This is exactly the sort of leadership we need in a world where we've declared a climate emergency," said James Byrne, living landscapes manager.

"It's a huge relief. We didn't know what the outcome would be - we had hope but there were no expectations."

He called for sustainable public transport investment - getting cars off the road and "allowing the motorway to be used for what it was always intended, which is long distance traffic".

Image source, RSPB

The Wales Green Party has welcomed First Minister Mark Drakeford's decision.

But its leader Anthony Slaughter said it should have been made several years ago.

"At a time when the climate emergency is being recognised at every level of government it would have been an act of criminal folly to go ahead with a road building scheme based on 1970’s transport policy and a betrayal of future generations," he said.

The party called for "meaningful action" to create a sustainable transport system fit for the 21st Century.

The Freight Transport Association said it was frustrated and called on the first minister to reconsider his decision.

"The construction of a ‘black route’ is the only option for the Welsh economy and its citizens," said Sally Gilson, head of Welsh policy.

"The M4 is a vital stretch of infrastructure with international economic importance, yet it is blighted by heavy congestion".

Steve Brooks, director of sustainable transport charity Sustrans Cymru, said it was the right decision and called for the wider Newport area to become a "European exemplar for green transport".

Small business group FSB Wales said it recognised the M4 decision would cause "real dismay" within the business community - and it knew all too well the problems that congestion around Newport poses for businesses.

However, the FSB said it had long expressed concern about the ‘black route’ option for the relief road, favouring the more cost-effective ‘blue route’ option as previously proposed by Prof Stuart Cole.

"This option would release funding to different infrastructure priorities around the rest of Wales while helping to relieve the problems caused by congestion around Newport," it said.

“Welsh Government must move immediately to engage with business to give an assurance that it has some sort of ‘Plan B’ option and/ or re-visit the blue route."

Paul and Mandy Jones own Tonew Kennels in Redwick, south east of Newport, which is home to up to 100 dogs, including strays and abandoned pets.

The business lies almost directly in the path of what would have been the relief road route, and the couple were worried they would be forced out by a compulsory purchase order.

Mr Jones said: “We won’t have to move anywhere. We can carry on with life as it is. We can carry on with the kennels. I’ve got grandchildren, which obviously when I’m not here, they will take over from me.”

Here's a quick summary:

Prof Mark Barry, a transport expert from Cardiff University, once supported the M4 relief road black route but now says: “I was wrong", warning of the impact of traffic on climate change.

“We’ve been incurring costs that we’ve not been paying for decades because of those personal mobility choices,” he says.

"We need to find ways to incentivise people to use public transport," says Prof Barry, who is heavily involved in the South Wales Metro project.

"You’ve got to build more, you’ve got to subsidise it, maybe we need tariffs on roads.

"The whole of the UK needs to think about how we charge the full cost environmentally of that personal mobility and the freedom we’ve enjoyed for 50 years."

Image source, bb

Newport West Labour AM Jayne Bryant is unhappy at the decision taken by First Minister Mark Drakeford, and is concerned about congestion in the city.

"I'm deeply disappointed that an M4 relief road is not going ahead," she told BBC Wales.

"I am adamant that the money set aside for a relief road must be spent on resolving this problem around Newport."

The full report, external from the planning inquiry has been published and ends in a conclusion to back the scheme:

"In my view, there is a compelling case for the scheme to be implemented in order relieve an acute problem on the strategic motorway network."

The inspector, the late Bill Wadrup, added: "It is accordingly my view that the scheme is in the public interest, it satisfies the test...and should be allowed to proceed despite the sensitive landscape and environment through which it would pass."

"The scheme would not, to my mind, have any disproportionate adverse impacts."

Andrew Morgan, the chairman of the Cardiff Capital Region - a partnership to promote economic growth - said the region needs substantial public transport investment as part of a "fit-for-future" infrastructure plan.

Mr Morgan, who is also leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf council, points to the importance of the £734m South Wales Metro.

"In the absence of an M4 relief road, we need to see it supported with further investment and associated transport enhancements, including potential projects such as Metro 2 and Metro 3".

Naturalist and broadcaster Iolo Williams tweeted, external: "Brilliant news. Well done @fmwales, external and everyone who has campaigned hard for common sense to prevail."

The Institution of Civil Engineers in Wales said it was disappointed with the decision.

"Anecdotal evidence from businesses operating in south Wales shows that traffic issues and delays are disincentivising them to expand and bring further business to the region," said spokesman Keith Jones.

"We look forward to the Welsh Government’s solution to resolving this very real problem.”