THE owners of Newport Docks say the chosen route for the M4 relief road will affect future development of the port and limit access.

Associated British Ports (ABP) has again warned of the impact of the Welsh Government’s preferred route, which will cost £1 billion, on its day-to-day operations and future plans.

This morning, a High Court judge rejected a Friends of the Earth Cymru legal challenge on the Welsh Government’s decision to go ahead with the controversial black route across the Gwent Levels.

Environmental groups said not enough was done to assess alternative options to the Magor to Castleton route, which could have had less of an impact on the environment.

Director of ABP South Wales Matthew Kennerley said: “We are not for or against any specific alternative proposals for the route of a new M4 Relief Road, but we do feel strongly that all options should be fully explored before an irrevocable decision is taken on a route that could seriously harm one of Wales’ most strategically important ports.”

ABP say the black route proposes to construct a bridge bisecting the south and north docks, which will create a height restrictions for vessels entering the site of 25 metres. The company say this will reduce access to 1,000 metres of quayside.

A report also states the bridge will prevent movement of mobile cranes and machinery used for loading and unloading ships.

An ABP spokesman said: “If the construction of the motorway goes ahead in its proposed black route position with the recently proposed motorway junction, an estimated 40 acres of land at the port would be lost to accommodate the new motorway and proposed junction.”

The company has also assessed how the route will affect its long-term plans for the port and said the route presents a “real threat” to its ideas.

A big part of ABP’s proposals is to transform North Dock to allow to wider vessels to enter the port but the black route will mean the potential for deep sea vessels will be “lost forever”.

ABP has also proposed to develop land surrounding Westway Road but say the area will be constrained if the route goes ahead.

The report adds: “As owner and operator of the Pot of Newport and four other ports across South Wales, ABP recognises the need to tackle M4 congestion at peak times, in the Newport area.

“To secure the future viability of Newport, ABP is urging the Welsh Government to full investigate the viability of all the proposed routes for the M4 relief road before it commits to building the black route in its current form.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We believe this is the best solution to transport issues around Newport and that it is vitally important to the economic prosperity of Wales.”