1: Introduction

1.1 Objectives

Since the Department of Transport published its controversial White Paper, Roads for Prosperity, in 1989, the debate over road building policy and its real environmental cost has continued to grow. Added to this the Department of Transports SACTRA report Assessing the Environmental Impact Of Road Schemes (Department of Transport, 1991), the gap between environmental concerns and economic benefits has not diminished. This report aims to contribute to the debate by providing a comprehensive assessment of the impact of road schemes on Wildlife Sites and protected landscapes in Wales

In 1990, the Wildlife Trusts launched a Transport Campaign with the aim of highlighting the impact of road building on wildlife. This has led to a series of regional reports under the banner "Head On Collision", giving the most comprehensive review ever made of the threats to Wildlife Sites from road building schemes. This report highlights these effects in Wales.

1.2 Methods

The information gathered for the production of this report is derived from the seven Wildlife Trusts in Wales: North Wales Wildlife Trust, Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust, Dyfed Wildlife Trust, Radnorshire Wildlife Trust, Brecknock Wildlife Trust, Glamorgan Wildlife Trust and Gwent Wildlife Trust. Each Trust compiled a schedule of proposed road schemes that were perceived to impact upon important Wildlife Sites and protected landscapes in the county or counties within their responsibility. To ensure consistency of approach clear criteria were required to identify proposed road schemes, important Wildlife Sites and protected landscapes. The following definitions were adopted:

Proposed road schemes: These were identified from the appropriate County Programme and the Welsh office's Roads in Wales document.

Important wildlife sites: Sites considered to be of importance to wildlife have been identified by reference to widely accepted criteria for the assessment of such sites.

a: Designated sites. Internationally important sites for the conservation of birds are designated as Special Protection Areas (SPA). These are designated by the Department of the Environment in accordance with the EC Directive on the Conservation of Wild Birds. Internationally important wetlands are designated as Ramsar Sites by the Department of the Environment, in accordance with the Ramsar Convention on the Conservation of Wetlands of International Importance. In many instances internationally important wetlands are also of importance to the conservation of wild birds and are consequently designated as both Ramsar and SPA sites. Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI) form a nation-wide network of the most valuable wildlife habitats in Britain. In Wales, they are identified by the Government's statutory advisors on nature conservation, The Countryside Council for Wales (CCW), and are notified in accordance with the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981. All SPA and Ramsar sites are also notified as SSSI.

b: Wildlife Sites. Within most counties Wildlife Sites have been identified by the local Wildlife Trusts. These are sites which are considered important for the conservation of nature and natural places within each county and support and extend the value of the SSSI network. Some authorities have adopted specific policies for the protection of such sites through Structure and Local Plans. Due to the non-statutory and county basis behind designation, there is no guarantee of consistency in the quality of Wildlife Sites between areas. However, they are generally regarded as being of at least regional or local importance to nature conservation.

c: Protected landscapes. As well as important Wildlife Sites this study also looks at the impact of proposed road schemes on protected landscapes. Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB) are designated by the CCW. They represent the most important landscapes in England and Wales and in terms of the landscapes they protect, are considered to enjoy equal status with the National Parks. Their protection is therefore no less important (Countryside Commission, 1991). In many AONB steps are being made to set up management committees to co-ordinate planning and conservation management within the protected landscape.

Identification of threatened sites.

All sites threatened by road schemes were initially identified by the Wildlife Trusts. These were critically examined before inclusion in this report. To be included sites had to meet one of the following criteria:

(1) There was clear evidence that a proposed new road route would pass through an important Wildlife Site, SSSI or Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB).

(2) Important Wildlife Sites, SSSI or Areas of Outstanding National Beauty (AONB) were located immediately adjacent to existing road routes where there are proposals to widen or otherwise upgrade such routes.

Threats to important Wildlife Sites and protected landscapes have been quantified by measuring the length of site or landscape crossed by each road scheme. In addition, details of the size and scale of the proposed road have been provided, where these are known.

Since the beginning of this study, construction of several of the identified road schemes has started and in some is nearing completion. Unless actually opened to traffic at the time of writing these road schemes have been retained in the report. As the data in this report was compiled over several months, there may have been changes to the proposed schemes identified, however no major changes have been identified at the time of publication.

Assessment of impact.

Direct impacts.

The construction of a new road through an important wildlife habitat or protected landscape has clear and dramatic impacts upon the habitat that is grubbed up or landscape that is scarred. These direct impacts are relatively easy to quantify once the detailed design of the road, including its width, cutting locations and embankment sizes are known. These engineering design features can considerably increase the direct impact of a road scheme. Unfortunately, in most instances the design of a new road is not made public until well into the road planning process. As a consequence, it has only been possible to estimate the magnitude of direct environmental impact of many of the road schemes by giving the length of habitat or landscape that is crossed by the road and the width of the proposed road, where this has been published.

In some instances the direct impact of widening and upgrading existing roads can be less than that caused by the construction of new roads. This is especially the case where proposals are to confine the widening to the existing carriageway width.

Indirect impacts

The construction of new roads and the enlargement of existing ones often has a number of very serious secondary impacts on Wildlife Sites. These include habitat fragmentation, disruption of water supplies to and from wetlands, pollution of air and water courses, disturbance of ground nesting birds, destruction of bat flight paths and the death of badgers, owls, deer and other animals as road traffic casualties. Road building also leads to demands for increased mineral extraction, an ever increasing appetite for energy, places to dump spoil removed from cuttings and motorway service areas. The flood of planning applications to build out of town shopping centres and other retail outlets around motorway junctions is yet another environmental threat not normally considered when a road scheme is planned.

New and enlarged roads cause damage to protected landscapes through the introduction of alien and discordant features. These may include new road cuttings and embankments which scar the landscape or increased traffic noise and road lighting which degrades their tranquil and remote character. This report does not attempt to quantify indirect impacts of individual schemes, but they must be borne in mind when considering the total impact of the road programmes.

2: Transport and Biodiversity

Transport has many effects on the environment and wildlife, from the site level to the global level. As the transport sector grows, these effects are becoming ever more pronounced. A new road can often divide a habitat with subsequent loss of vegetation and species. This fragmentation can lead to a reduction in area below a minimum threshold for successful regeneration or maintenance of species or habitat. In effect this means habitats become too small to support their original diversity of species. In Wales the cumulative loss or modification of habitats could lead to extinction of species and rare and fragile ecosystems, which are themselves of value, can be put at risk. Fragments may also prove more difficult to manage successfully and may even be considered not worthy of management. Some species such as woodcock (Scolopax rusticola) need large territories, which if fragmented by roads, reduces breeding success, even though the percentage under tarmac may seem small.

It is now clear that a transport policy is needed which can control growth, and give environmentally stronger considerations. This section briefly outlines areas of concern and figures are taken from companion 'Head On Collision' reports from the English regions, full details can be found in these and many other reports (e.g. RSPB 1994)

Barrier Effects.

The roadway may form a barrier preventing the movement of wildlife species between areas thereby inhibiting dispersal and range of territory.

Noise.

In the past there was a distinct lack of research carried out on the effects of noise on Wildlife Sites, recently work carried out by Dutch researchers has highlighted that disturbance from noise is a problem for certain birds and mammals.

Runoff.

Pollution such as oil, salt and heavy metals can splash into surrounding vegetation, seep into the soil and be carried off into water courses over a substantial distance being deposited ultimately in bodies of open water. They include degenerative products which partly come from vehicle and road surface disintegration and include cadmium, copper, zinc and chromium - all contained in brake linings, rubber particles and asphalt. The effects of such products are not well documented but heavy metals are known to adversely affect the breeding success of birds, the roots of plants and any associated mycorrhizae.

Air Pollution.

Many effects of airborne pollution are under-researched but it has an undoubted effect on wildlife, though specific effects are poorly documented. The general result is seen as a reduction in species diversity with many rare species disappearing first. The expected consequences for human health are signalled by the recent appearance on the radio, television and in newspapers of daily air pollution assessments.

Acid Rain.

Acid rain is a term used to describe pollution from nitrous oxide, sulphur dioxide and the secondary pollutants formed from them in the air such as ground level ozone. It includes not only rain polluted with sulphuric and nitric acids but mists and snows as well as the gases themselves. Road transport is the main contributor of nitrous oxides but only a minor source of sulphur dioxide. It is thought that nitrous oxides contribute about one third of the acidity of rainfall in Europe.

Greenhouse Effects.

Carbon dioxide is one of the most important greenhouse gas and is formed during the combustion of fossil fuels. In the UK vehicles are the third largest source of carbon dioxide, the combustion of 1 litre of petrol produces 2.4 Kg of carbon dioxide whilst 1 litre of diesel produces 2.7 kg. The link between carbon dioxide production and climate change is now internationally recognised.

Landtake.

This can be divided up into two types. Primary landtake refers to the land taken up by transport infrastructure: roads, railways, pipelines and associated facilities including verges, terminals, stations and depots for parking and maintenance. Such landtake has often been in areas of nature conservation importance, and damage to such sites is irrevocable. Secondary landtake refers to the effects of construction and run off from transport infrastructure and, perhaps most important of all, the role that transport plays in encouraging development.

Construction activities can result in localised damage to habitats including land drainage, alterations to water courses, tipping of surplus soil and spoil, and storage of mechanical plant and equipment. Land drainage and watercourses may be severely disrupted.

Resource Consumption.

Aggregates

The consumption of aggregates (limestone, gravel and sand) by the construction industry is very significant. Road building and maintenance accounts for almost a third of the aggregates used every year. Mining and quarrying for these aggregates have significant environmental impacts - particularly in South East England and South Wales, where sand and gravel beds are found in land of high agricultural and environmental quality (TEST 1991), and in Scotland, where several so-called super quarries are proposed.

Energy.

Energy use is the key to a major part of transport's adverse impact on the environment: air pollution. The depletion of resources as a result of the transport sector is significant, but is considered to be a less serious adverse environmental impact in the short term.

The transport sector accounts for almost a third of global consumption of energy: the residential and commercial sector consumes 43 millions barrels of oil equivalent (mboe) per day, industry consumes 42 mboe per day, and transportation accounts for 27 mboe per day (Scientific American, cited by Hills 1993b). This share is increasing both in absolute and relative terms (TEST 1991).

3: Appraisal Techniques and Nature Conservation.

There has been a long running debate among British transport planners that investment appraisal procedures for highway schemes fail to give adequate weighting to environmental factors in decision making and that appraisal techniques used for road and public transport create a bias in favour of highway investment.

Fundamental to the appraisal process is a cost/benefit analysis based on accumulated time savings of millions of drivers compared with the cost of the scheme. If the savings are greater than the cost, the scheme is considered acceptable for Treasury subsidy. Thus a scheme could be justified and defended on the grounds of time benefits to motorists even though many motorists may prefer an alternative route avoiding damage to important Wildlife Sites, or an alternative form of transport altogether.

The position with regard to the protection of nature conservation sites in national road transport planning is unclear. The current procedures for national planning suggest that nature conservation interests are taken into account at an early stage via environmental assessments and consultation with appropriate authorities and at the scheme appraisal. However, the number of such sites lost and damaged by road schemes suggests that whilst such matters might be taken into account in the planning procedures and scheme appraisal, they are given low priority.

Given that statutory sites are recognised by Government as being important for nature conservation, it might be asked by the casual observer why it is that roads seem to be attracted to them. One important explanation is that the DoT is constrained by the cost of road construction which limits the extent to which diversions in the interests of conservation, landscape and local amenity can be countenanced. In this context land values play an important role in the choice of a particular route. Land of value for nature conservation typically has a low value for agriculture, being normally grade 3 or 4, or is unlikely to be subject to commercial development. Therefore, it has a lower market value. Hence, routes which cross SSSI's often appear cheaper, all else being equal.

The current approach to road planning treats sites of nature conservation value as expendable and usually the easiest option. As a commitment to sustainable development the stock of SSSI's and other important Wildlife Sites should be protected within a revised national transport policy, together with the wider countryside in which they are located. With this report and others produced around the country we hope local authorities and the Government will consider reassessing appraisal methods so that a stock of environmental wealth, no less than that existing at the present time, will be left for future generations.

3.1 The role of Environmental Assessment (by Nicholas Parrott).

It is now ten years since the European Community Directive on Environmental Assessment was passed (CEC 1985). Its aim is to ensure that major projects are subject to formal assessment of the environmental impacts prior to authorisation. So how has the need for EA affected the planning and consent systems for major projects? This question is not easily answered; there are different interpretations on the effect that it has had.

The environmental assessment of roads has, in particular, been dogged by controversy. At the end of the 1980s there were legal and diplomatic controversies as to whether EA had been carried out on a number of high profile road schemes in England (notably Twyford Down and Oxleas Wood). Since that time it has become standard practice to carry out full Environmental Assessment on all major road schemes. Since then the quality of EA has steadily improved. From flimsy and rather poorly prepared publications, they have developed into well presented, sophisticated and technical documents.

The main reason for this improvement lies in the publication of Volume II of the Design manual for Roads and Bridges (DoT 1993a). This provides guidance on EA techniques and procedures and replaced the earlier Manual of Environmental assessment, employed by the DoT since the 1970s. Volume II is an improvement on the old manual for three reasons. It includes several new sections (e.g. on vibration, water quality, soils and geology). The content of other sections, for example air quality and nature conservation, has significantly improved. Finally, and probably most importantly, it has brought forward the assessment process to an earlier stage in the development cycle. An example of the importance of this is that wildlife surveys, which often require a long lead time can be undertaken earlier in the planning process and in consequence are more likely to be reliable.

In terms of project design and authorisation the requirements for EA appears to have had beneficial effects. Individual projects appear to be developed with more sensitivity to the local environment, there is more consultation (at least with organisations, if not the general public), and there appear to be more mitigation measures incorporated into schemes (these now count for some 2-5 % of total scheme costs). However the nature of the roads planning process still weakens the potential of EA in safeguarding the environment. Four particular issues can be identified.

Economic Valuation: There is a strong reliance on economic assessment and the need to show optimal returns on a scheme. Land costs are an important element in the budget and, since nature conservation sites and non intensively farmed land have a low market value this can often put pressure on such sites. There is also an ongoing debate as to whether the present system overvalues the time savings made by motorists (which normally account for 80% or more of the benefits of a scheme), and whether environmental values can or ought to be monetarised (Transport 2000 / New Economics Foundation 1991).

Piecemeal Analysis: The division of schemes into several sections means that the overall effects of a scheme (especially pressure on land use and potential traffic generation), are often not fully captured. furthermore, once one section is approved the options for the line of subsequent sections are reduced. The present proposals for dualling the A5 across Anglesey to Holyhead provides an example. Here, what is openly recognised to be one scheme is being developed in three stages. From an administrative point of view it may be convenient to develop roads in 'manageable' stages but this approach frustrates attempts to assess the full environmental (and economic) consequences of a project.

Lack of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA): Many of the environmental impacts of road transport occur at a “generic” level rather than being place specific. Acidification is one such issue, global warming another. In both cases it is important to identify the relevant role of road transport and then identify appropriate responses. Clearly this needs to happen at a policy rather than a project level. Yet at present these issues are not taken into account. Another insight that can be gained from SEA is an understanding of the cumulative effects of road building schemes. A recent report commissioned by the Countryside Council for Wales (Chris Blandford Associates 1994a) identified 92 road schemes in the current roads programmes (of the Welsh Office and County Councils) which are either within or in close proximity to designated areas. More specifically 20 of these are within the boundaries of SSSI’s and a further 45 are in close proximity to SSSI’s. Thus approximately 8% of Welsh SSSI’s are at potential risk from road building. At the individual project level the significance of losing a woodland or a stretch of estuarine habitat may not be a compelling argument against a road improvement. However on a cumulative basis the potential loss to tarmac of so many sites represents a significant threat to nature conservation and biodiversity throughout the Principality.

Business as Normal: The roads programme is developed on the basis of assumptions regarding traffic growth, laid out in the National Road Traffic Forecasts (currently under revision), often supplemented by local data. Current forecasts suggests an annual growth of 2-3%, representing 82-140% growth in traffic between 1990 and 2015. Despite the warnings of the recent Royal Commission report (Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution, 1994), there has been little serious debate about how this inexorable growth might be accommodated, or whether it would be better to seek to slow or reverse this pattern. Experience in other parts of Europe suggests that practical measures can reduce car dependency, improve the quality of life in towns and villages and reduce the impact of roads on our countryside. Most existing schemes are urban based and there are only a few examples of how car dependency in rural areas can be reduced, or how to shorten the ever lengthening chains of distribution and manufacturing characteristic of “post industrial” society. Responses to such problems will require political support and funding, both of which are presently lacking.

3.2 Conclusion: Environmental Assessment can be best viewed as a conflict resolution technique, focusing on local land use issues. At this local level it can, and has, led to more environmentally acceptable schemes. More concessions are likely to be made to nature conservation (and other amenity interests) now compared to even five years ago. Yet the conflicts that EA is trying to resolve run deeper and are inevitable whilst there is a demand for increasing road capacity. The neglect of a systematic approach to transport policy (and demand management) means that roads planners and the public are all too often faced with invidious choices between losing precious countryside and relieving congestion from towns and villages blighted with traffic levels which they were not designed to cope with. EA can be a valuable tool for promoting concerns about the natural environment on a local level but growing demand for road space continues to put pressure both on the countryside and on our towns and villages.

4: Results of the study

This investigation revealed proposals for road construction which have a primary impact, crossing at least 58.4 kilometres and 55.5 ha of protected wildlife habitat, many of the schemes identified had no information on the number of kilometres of habitat affected by the roads, therefore the area identified as being under threat will be a conservative estimate. While the secondary impacts can be as devastating to wildlife and habitats as primary impacts the former are much harder to quantify. However, these effects are damaging and long term, and will impact on large areas of sensitive habitats in Wales.

A total of 66 road schemes were identified which collectively impacted upon a total of 102 important Wildlife Sites. Road schemes impacted on 29 sites within or adjacent to SSSI’s. National Parks, Ramsar sites, Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and County Parks are being or will be impacted on in some way by road schemes.

A variety of wildlife, including badgers, otters, bats, birds, dragonflies, newts and many others are in immediate danger. A wide range of locally, regionally, nationally and internationally important habitats are seen to be under threat.

Detailed results of the study, showing individual road schemes and habitats and wildlife affected, are given in the appendices.

5: Conclusion.

The results of this study show that the current road building programme in Wales is unacceptable in its direct and indirect impact on Welsh wildlife. To continue with this programme, in the knowledge of its impacts, would be in direct contravention of the commitments made by the Government at the 1992 Earth Summit. Although large schemes, such as the M4, attract much attention and are very damaging, it is particularly worrying to note how the county road programmes, while not always so obviously detrimental, are shown to be seriously eroding the natural capital of Wales.

The Wildlife Trusts therefore call for a suspension of the current programme pending the production of a National Transport Plan which integrates land use and transport planning (including public transport) to minimise damage to the Welsh countryside and wildlife. Such a plan should be produced with full public consultation and should take into account the findings of SACTRA and the Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution. The Government should also press for an integrated transport policy for Europe, and not support the Trans-European Road Network (TERN).

Where any road is deemed necessary, it should be subject to a full Environmental Impact Assessment at the earliest possible stage. Such an EIA should look fully at alternatives to the road, as well as route alternatives. It should also be wide ranging enough to look at the aggregate sources, possible effects of increased pollution, noise etc. and carried out in public.

APPENDICES

Appendix 1: Details of Wildlife Trust areas in Wales and specific case studies.

A1.1: Montgomeryshire

Montgomeryshire lies on the border with England along much of its length and encompasses a diverse range of environments. These range from the uplands, including parts of the Cambrian mountain and Berwyn ranges giving examples of heather and grass moor land, screes, rock and upland conifer forest, to a small section of tidal saltmarsh on the Dyfi estuary. In between the county incudes areas of deciduous woods, predominantly oak and further dense coniferous plantations. The broad fertile plains of the Rivers Severn and Vyrnwy, predominantly grazing land for cattle and sheep, along with the rivers themselves, offer further habitats for many species of flora and fauna.

A1.1.1: Case Study: A470/A44 Junction at Llangurig

During the construction in 1990 hard core and spoil was dumped into a wetland area known as Llyn Tan y Llwyn without planning permission. The problem arose because the Engineering company contracted by the Welsh Office to design and construct the road believed that the on site contractors had consulted Powys County Council over the matter. The contractors told the engineering company that they did not need planning permission to dump the waste and the engineering company took them at their word. This of course was not the case and so a Wildlife Site was destroyed in a matter of hours.

This also occurred during the construction of the Llanidloes by-pass as well when dumping of spoil took place on riverside pasture and the river banks without planning permission.

A 1.2: Gwent

The county of Gwent includes a wide variety of habitats, from the Severn estuary to upland moorland. Probably the most notable features are the river valleys of the Usk and Wye, and their associated woodlands, and the unique area of the Gwent Levels.

The Gwent Levels

The Gwent Levels are an area of reclaimed wet grassland situated between Cardiff and Chepstow in south-east Wales. Covering 8,400 hectares it is the largest habitat of its type in Wales, and is of at least national importance for its flora and invertebrate fauna.

Concerted efforts to reclaim the Levels began around 2,000 years ago. A sea wall was constructed, and a complex network of drainage channels were dug to drain the land. Considerable areas of the Levels have been improved for agriculture, but on some fields it is still possible to see shallow troughs running across them which drain off surface water. These grips, as they are known, drain into the adjacent field ditches, and the field ditches empty into larger channels called reens. There are around 1,000 kilometres of field ditches on the Levels with a further 200 kilometres of reens. These form the boundaries of fields, acting as 'water-fences'.

Many of these 'water-fences' have remained much the same as they were 400-500 years ago, and some date back to Roman times. Not only does this landscape have tremendous historic importance (the Gwent Levels are to be assigned as a Grade I Historic Landscape under the Register of Landscapes for Wales), but the waterways are also vital for wildlife.

The Gwent Levels support an outstanding assemblage of wetland plants and invertebrates, including a number of Red Data Book (RDB) species. The Levels are practically unique in Wales and are amongst the top five habitats of this type in Britain with regard to their ditch fauna (Fowles, 1994). Consequently, some 5,700 hectares of the Levels have been designated under six Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).

The Botanical Interest of the Gwent Levels

The Gwent Levels reens are rich in plant species and communities, many of which are rare or absent in other Levels systems (CCW, Levels SSSI notifications). Species include the nationally scarce Slender Hares-ear (Bupleurium tenuissimum), Bulbous Foxtail (Alopecurus bulbosus), Hairlike Pondweed (Potamogetan trichoides), Least Duckweed (Wolffia arrhiza), Whorled Water-milfoil (Myriophyllum verticillatum), and Bithynian Vetch (Vicia bithynica).

A further 25 species are of county or regional importance, including the regionally notable Arrowhead (Sagittaria sagittifolia), and Frogbit (Hydrocharis morsus-ranae).

Little is known about the bryophytes, although the Levels have produced the only Welsh record for the nationally notable Ricciocarpus natans (a floating liverwort). The floating fern, Azolla filiculoides, is also found on some reens.

The Invertebrate Interest of the Gwent Levels

There are at least 144 nationally scarce invertebrate species on the Levels, of which 16 are listed in the Red Data Book. This number comprises six RDB2 (Vulnerable) species, one provisional RDB2 (Vulnerable), five RDB3 (Rare), two provisional RDB3 (Rare), and two RDBK species (i.e.: precise status unknown). The water beetle assemblage is unique in Wales (Fowles, 1994) and includes four species not known elsewhere in the Principality.

The dragonfly fauna is rich (at least 17 species recorded) and includes four nationally notable species. Despite the studies that have been carried out on the Levels invertebrate fauna, there are gaps in our knowledge - it seems likely that many species have not yet been recorded.

The Vertebrate Interest of the Gwent Levels

Our knowledge of vertebrates on the levels is surprisingly poor. However, it is known that the site supports an assemblage of breeding wetland birds typical of lowland wet grassland, including Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus), Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), Redshank (Tringa totanus), and Yellow Wagtail (Motocilla flava). The site provides a valuable roosting area for the waterfowl of the Severn estuary, particularly the substantial numbers of birds along the Gwent coastal mudflats.Among other vertebrates, Otter (Lutra lutra) and Great Crested Newt (Triturus cristatus) have been recorded on the Gwent Levels.

A 1.2.1: Case study: The M4 Relief Road

During summer 1993, the Welsh Office announced a proposal to construct a motor way in order to relieve congestion on the M4 around Newport, which is likely to reach capacity in the next few years.

Most of the route options considered would have had a profound impact upon the Levels. A northern route, around the Levels, was disregarded owing to the landscape impact it would have. No alternative solutions to building a motor way were given consideration, despite the fact that much of the congestion is caused by the two-lane Brynglas tunnels along the Newport stretch of the M4. This is exacerbated by rush-hour "junction-hopping" (i.e.: people using the motor way for 1-3 miles for journeys between Newport and towns north of the motor way).

Following a public consultation over three route options in 1993, there was a resounding thumbs-down for any motor way solution. With Oxleas Wood and Twyford Down providing high-profile campaigns against motor way schemes, the public felt that a new motor way across the Gwent Levels was simply not the answer. It is believed, though not confirmed officially, that around 90% of respondents to the Welsh Office questionnaire said "No" to the construction of any motor way.

A second public consultation exercise was undertaken during September 1994, with two route options. One of these was more or less the same as one of the proposals in the first consultation and would affect five SSSI's. The other option shared over 50% of the route of the first option, but would affect the town of Magor, and would have an impact on four of the Levels SSSI's.

Despite tremendous opposition, the Welsh Office announced in July 1995 that it would proceed with further studies on the route option affecting Magor. Although this would affect four rather than five SSSI's, it would still cross over 8.5 km of SSSI land, and would in fact affect more sensitive areas than the alternative route.

The route would connect to the existing M4 west of junction 29, and would take a roughly south-east path on to the Wentlooge Levels (that part of the Gwent Levels west of Newport). It would continue eastwards, towards Newport Docks, where it would cross the Usk by a bridge. It would then cut across the Caldicot Levels (that areas of the Gwent Levels east of Newport), about 1 km south of the Llanwern steelworks complex, before taking a north-easterly direction to Magor. After cutting around Magor and running parallel to the existing M4 for 2 km or so, it would finally turn south-east to join up with the approach road to the Second Severn Crossing. The total length of the motor way would be 23.9 km, with an estimated cost of £299 million (1991 figures) (Welsh Office, 1994).

A 1.2.2: The Impact of the M4 Relief Road on Flora and Fauna

Because the full details of the preferred route still need to be determined, it is not possible to predict the precise impact of the motor way on individual species on the Gwent Levels. However, what is certain is that the preferred route option will cut through some outstanding areas on the Gwent Levels, including the area to the south of Llanwern steelworks and the area north of Maerdy Farm (1 km east of the village of Coedkernew). It is also known that the preferred option will prove more damaging in terms of the botanical value of the sites that it would affect, despite the fact that it actually impinges upon slightly less of the Gwent Levels SSSI's than the alternative route proposed in the second public consultation.

The two outstanding areas identified above were defined as "nature conservation priority areas" by the then Nature Conservancy Council (NCC) in 1982 (now the Countryside Council for Wales). The NCC stated that not only should these sites be protected from development, but that it should even be directed away from land adjacent to these priority areas.

The area south of Llanwern steelworks, and the area to the north of Maerdy Farm provide the habitat of a number of notable species:

Flora

Nationally Scarce species - Myriophyllum verticillatum

Potamogetan trichoides

Vicia bithynica

Regionally notable species - Carex elata

Hydrocharis morsus-ranae

Lathyrus nissolia

Lemna polyrhiza

Potamogetan pusillus

Ranunculus circinatus

Ranunculus trichophyllus

Sagittaria sagittifolia

Species of County Importance - Butomus umbellatus

Carex acutiformis

Catabrosa aquatica

Ceratophyllum demersum

Lemna gibba

Lemna trisulca

Ophioglossum vulgatum

Potamogetan pectinatus

Vicia tetrasperma

Most of these species are found at other sites within the route corridor, but the two areas outlined above are where there are good concentrations of important species. It should also be noted that the interest does not end at the boundary of the Gwent Levels SSSI's. Areas of the Levels not covered by SSSI designation are also under threat, and include sites which harbour the nationally scarce Alopecurus bulbosus, the regionally notable Lotus tenuis and Zannichelia palustris, and the locally important Carex pseudocyperus, Chenopodium glaucum, Epipactis palustris and Ophrys apifera.

Fauna

Among invertebrates, much work has to be done to establish the true impact of the motor way, but it will certainly have implications for the RDB2 soldier fly, Odontomyia ornata, and nine nationally notable 'b' species, including the Variable Damselfly (Coenagrion pulchellum), the Hairy Dragonfly (Brachytron pratense), the Ruddy Darter Dragonfly (Sympetrum sanguineum) and the Adonis Ladybird (Adonia variegata).

Impacts upon birds are even more difficult to predict, given that there has been a decline in ornithological interest over the past thirty years or so owing to alterations in water level management. Nevertheless, the area south of Llanwern is important for breeding Lapwing (Vanellus vanellus) as well as major concentrations of Reed Warbler (Acrocephalus scirpaceus), Sedge Warbler (A. schoenobaenus), and Reed Bunting (Emberiza schoeniclus). Furthermore, that part of the route which follows a north-easterly path towards Magor cuts through an area important for breeding Redshank (Tringa totanus), Snipe (Gallinago gallinago), and Lapwing (RSPB, 1984).

Impacts upon other vertebrates are not possible to predict because of our lack of knowledge about their distribution. Further concerns about the impact of the motor way relate to problems of habitat fragmentation and pollution. There is also the possibility that the motor way will open up the Levels for further development.

The Gwent Levels are clearly an outstanding area that is of at least national importance. Conserving the assemblage of wetland species found on the Levels is vital to the overall aims of protecting the biodiversity of the Principality.

A 1.3: North Wales

North Wales is a land of contrasts - steep rocky mountains, culminating in the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in England and Wales, and also coastlines of sandy beaches, imposing cliffs and dramatic estuaries. The coastline itself extends for some 400 km and includes the estuaries of the Dyfey and Dee and also the Menai Strait, a proposed Marine Nature Reserve. Underlying these contrasts is a geological complexity which ranges from some of the oldest rocks in Britain on Anglesey to the most recent glacial gravel's of the Wrexham area.

Although dark stretches of conifer forest cover parts of Clwyd and Gwynedd, areas of ancient woodland still remain, the wet climate of the coast contributing to the enormous diversity of Moses and liverworts that may be found. It is such woods that the Pied Flycatcher inhabits.

In contrast to the uplands of Snowdonia, the Berwyns and Clwydians Ranges are the predominately agricultural lowlands of the Vale of Clwyd, Llyn and Anglesey. Despite their long history of human activity, among the close knit landscape of country lanes, fields and hedgerows a few flower rich meadows remain. Outcrops of limestone support a wide range of plants, some rare in Wales. Water seeping through this rock plays a vital role in the formation of the calcareous wetlands of Anglesey. The North Wales Wildlife Trust was formed to protect one such site - Cors Goch - now a National Nature Reserve.

A 1.4: Dyfed

The three counties of Carmarthen, Ceridigion and Pembrokeshire, which together make up Dyfed contain some of the richest wildlife treasures anywhere in Great Britain. Greatest of these is the coastline, some 300 miles in length. There are sinuous estuaries, grand cliff lines sandy beaches, backed both in the north and south by sandhills and burrows, countless rocky beaches and sea caves. Then of course there are the islands - eight main ones with numerous stacks and smaller outcrops.

Inland the wooded valleys provide another special habitat, most of the key Wildlife Sites being those clinging to the steep sides which have largely escaped mans activities down through the centuries. Although agricultural improvements have resulted in much loss of habitat, fragments of wet heathy pasture remain, these are one of the last strongholds in Great Britain for the endangered Mash Fritillary Butterfly.

The rivers and streams are important for Otters , and birds like the grey Wagtail. Although there are few large open water bodies, several are of note like the Bosherton lakes of South Pembrokeshire, and the high ground lakes of central Ceridigion, with their special plant communities. The marshes and bogs are wildlife treasures, indeed several like Cors Fochno and Cors Tregaron have international recognition. Heath land, especially the lowland heaths of north - west Pembrokeshire, with a few fragments in Ceridigion, also provides a rich Wildlife resource. The uplands, which have not escaped much change by agricultural improvement and forestry, nevertheless retain important wildlife areas, and that very special bird the Red Kite, whose present well - being and good fortune due in no small measure to a century of protection in Dyfed in which the Wildlife Trust members have played their full part.

A 1.5: Radnor

Radnorshire covers an area of only 471 square miles, but with a population of only 23,500 it is one of the most thinly populated areas in the United Kingdom. Radnor has been described in percentage terms as the most upland vice-county in Wales, by those considering areas above 650 ft as upland. There are, however, no distinctive mountain ranges, rather a gently undulating upland plateau, lying mostly between 1312 ft (400m), and 1968 ft (600m), dissected by many clean rivers. All of Radnorshire lies within either the Cambrian Mountains or The Radnor Environmentally sensitive areas. There are some 73 SSSI's in. Radnorshire covering some 15,428 ha.

The highest elevation is at 660m (2165 ft), on Radnor Forest and lowest is 246 ft (75m) where the River Wye leaves the county into Herefordshire. Large areas of Radnorshire upland remain virtually unspoilt with the upland commons occupying some 14 % of Radnor. Approximately another 8 % of Radnorshire is occupied by the Elan Estate, here the vegetation again is largely unspoilt.

Down from the plateau large numbers of hedges still abound , many cut from old woodlands. In certain parts however, these have been grubbed out, leaving the hillsides baked in prairie green. Broad leafed woodlands are well scattered throughout the area , but are relatively small and often cling to inaccessible valleys. Less than 4% of the vice-county is covered by Ancient semi-natural woodlands, many of these have also been grubbed out, some converted to conifer plantations.

Hidden behind the hedgerows are a good number of small unimproved hay meadows and pastures clinging to their existence c/o of the Lady of Thread-needle street.

The main rivers in Radnorshire, the Wye, Lugg, Teme and Ithon are rich in wildlife, including otters, salmon, trout and crayfish and are all SSSI's or proposed SSSI's. Plants such as wild chives and rock cinquefoil flourish, indeed many travellers may be lulled into a false sense of security; this rich tapestry is underpinned by only a thin veneer, the pressure of change is immense. The thin veneer is wearing very thin and much flora and fauna clings by a perilous hold

A 1.6: Brecknock

Unlike much of Britain there are no wildlife oasis trapped within prairies of wheat or over - improved grassland in Brecknock. There are poor sites and there are outstanding sites but much of the rest can be said to be blessed with a wide variety of habitat types and numerous species of plant and animal. A rural district covering 178,000 ha, the dominant land use is agricultural, though forestry, water storage and military training also impact upon the countryside.

It is the underlying rocks, and the processes which have weathered them, which help mould and sculpt both the landscape and the flora and fauna which reside there. Geologically the strata of the lower Palaeozoic dominate and these are overlain in the north west by Silurian and Ordovician sediments. Geomorphological interest perhaps centres in the waterfall country of the headwaters of the river Neath, though the glaciation effects are well represented in the Cwms which have been scoured out of the Old Red Sandstone escarpment of the Brecon Beacons.

Only recently have base - line and subsequent comprehensive follow up surveys of the botanical nature of Brecknock been completed by the Countryside Council for Wales. The so called Phase and Phase give a much clearer picture of the mosaic of habitats to be found within the district.

Much of the district lies above 1000 ft and many of the lowland unimproved grassland and heath exhibits features typical of the uplands. Globeflower and Greater butterfly orchid are characteristic plants of such sites. The uplands themselves, in the more extensive areas, are breeding grounds for waders such as golden plover and raptors like the merlin and the peregrine falcon. Elsewhere, the ledges of the escarpment within the National Park provide refuge for Arctic - Alpines, often at the southern edge of their range in Britain. Blanket bog is widespread but the areas of actively growing peat are few.

On the inaccessible sites and the land of lower agricultural value grow the native woodlands. Most are still grazed and there is little natural regeneration. The woodland types, perhaps more than any other habitat, reflect the underlying rock types. On the acidic rocks of the north and west grow sessile oak woodlands, which are lichen and Bryophyte rich where the air is free from pollutants. The more nutrient rich soils of the Old Red Sandstone support highly diverse Ash/Oak/Elm woodlands, whereas in the south ash woodland, growing on the limestone.

A 1.7: Glamorgan

Glamorgan is the second largest country in Wales, after Camarthenshire, covering a total land area of 208,892 hectares. It is by far the most industrialised of the Welsh Counties, supporting a resident population of c. 1,300,000, some 45% of the total human population of the Principality.

The county encompasses a geologically and topographically diverse area, where the distribution limits of many wildlife species typically northern or southern overlap. This is well illustrated by the biodiversity of the county, with some 1840 species of flowering plants recorded, made up of 954 native species, 364 naturalised or established introductions, and 550 casuals. The numbers of recorded animals is no less impressive with more than 5,500 species of invertebrate recorded in the county, including 30 dragonfly species, 73% of the British number, and 2,182 species of beetle, 55% of the British number of species. More than 400 vertebrates, including 300 bird species, around half of which breed shows the wealth of wildlife that exists in the Glamorgan countryside.

The area is broadly divided into the Uplands - the Coal field Basin, and the Lowlands - the Vale of Glamorgan and the Gower Peninsula. With the southern boundary forming a long and varied coastline bordering the Severn Estuary and the Bristol Channel. With this diversity, there is an exceptional variety of plant habitats and plant communities, and very few of the major Welsh habitats are absent.

Those habitats along the coastal strip include some of the finest sand dune systems in the British Isles, the combined area of Merthyr Mawr, Kenfig, Baglan, Crymlyn, Oxwich Llandennith and Whiteford exceeding 2,000 hectares. Due to the tidal range if the Bristol Channel salt marsh and inter tidal mud-flats are also well represented, the principal sites including the Rhymney estuary, the Taff/Ely estuary, the Ogmore estuary, the Neath estuary, Blackpill, and the Burry Inlet. The latter site forming the northern coast of Gower, represents the largest salt marsh complex in Wales, and the second largest in the British Isles.

Hard coast in the form of sea cliffs form a dominant feature of the Glamorgan coastline in the Vale and on Gower. The Lower Lias limestone cliffs of the Vale extend discontinuously from Cardiff to Ogmore estuary, and the Carboniferous limestone from Mumbles Head west of Swansea to Worm’s Head at the south west tip of Gower.

The inland habitats of Glamorgan divided between uplands and lowlands are made up of a mosaic of grasslands, woodlands, and heath land, the latter often registered common land. These can be further divided by the underlying geology and soils into limestone, neutral and acidic plant communities. A large proportion of the lowland habitat components have been damaged and changed through agricultural improvement, and the change in land-use practice in silage, obtained from highly productive species poor grassland leys, replacing hay as the principal forage crop.

The Glamorgan woodlands have also undergone a radical change from being described as the most wooded county in Wales at the beginning of the nineteenth century to having a total of only 6736 hectares, over 2 ha in extent, covering only 3 % of the county, of ancient semi-natural broad-leaved woodland today. This change has come about through clear felling for agricultural, housing and development, or conversion to introduced conifer plantations. Conifer planting has also been undertaken upon the productively poor upland grasslands and heathland, sufficient to make Glamorgan one of the most afforested counties in Wales, with present West Glamorgan being the most afforested local authority area in Great Britain.

Glamorgan possesses an extensive network of rivers and water courses which have been subject to many pressures, not least as a waste disposal system for heavy industries, and coal mining. Now that they are becoming cleaner, the re-invasion of a small population of Otter bodes well for the future. The county lacks almost any major natural open water habitats, with the exception of Kenfig Pool, but amenity, water supply needs, and industrial development have provided artificial sites such as Eglwys Nenydd, Llanishen and Lisvane Reservoirs, and Roath Park Lake.

Due to housing, industrial development, quarrying, flood defence, and the associated transport infrastructure, road building, all these habitats have been partly damaged or in some places large areas destroyed. Examples include the Bute town link road construction damaging the estuarine habitats of the Taff/Ely estuary. The imminent construction of a tidal barrage across the entrance of the Taff/Ely estuary will destroy this valuable wildlife habitat, as we know it. The route of the M4 motor way built over the last twenty years cuts through a succession of ancient semi-natural woodlands, lowland heath land and the Kenfig sand dune system as it forges west. The construction of the new route of the A465(T) in the Neath Valley has required major river diversions, and caused not inconsiderable damage to the riparian woodlands of part of the valley which has had little or no recent access by man.

The planned and future road construction listed below, in the county schedules, continue to diminish the variety of habitats and biodiversity of the county.

Appendix 2: Summary of results by Wildlife Trust area.

Table 1

North Wales Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
23	38	6 SSSI AONB Snowdonia Nat. Park County Park	27.29 Km	Ancient Woodland, Herb Grass, Hazel/Willow scrub, Grassland, Marsh, Coastal Marsh, Rocky Gorge, Heath/Acid Grass, Oak Woods, Valley Mire, Ponds, Reed beds, Meadow	Badgers Birds including Arctic Terns and Corncrakes, Newts, Dragonflies, Otters.

Table 2

Dyfed Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
16	16	7 SSSI Snowdonia Nat, Park	No figures available	Hedgerows, Wetlands, River	Otters, Dormice, Badgers

Table 3

Montgomeryshire Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
5	5	4 SSSI	8.71 Km	Bog, Semi Natural Woodland, Woodland, Ancient semi Natural Woodland, Various Wildlife Sites, Wet Meadows, Riverside, Flood - plain	Badgers, Birds including Waders, Red Wood Ant colony,

Table 4

Glamorgan Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
5	24	?	9.5 km	Woodland, ponds, streams, Bankside.	Fish, Otters, wildfowl, butterflies.

Table 5

Gwent Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
2	5	5 SSSI Nat.Park S.A.C for Bats	8.5 Km	Drainage Channels, Wetland, Hedgerow, Scrub, Semi Improved Grassland, Woodland.	Important Plants, Wildlife, Wetland Invertebrates, Otters, Newts

Table 6

Brecknock Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
4	7	1 SSSI	0.9 Km	Riverine, Semi-natural Woodland, Grassland, Heathland, Wooded Dingle, Hedgerows.	Bats, Otters, Birds including Kingfishers and Sand Martins, Badgers, Dormice.

Table 7

Radnor Wildlife Trust

No of Schemes	No of Sites affected	No of Protected sites impacted	Length or area of Habitat crossed by road	Habitats affected	Wildlife affected
14	36	6 SSSI	3.7 Km 55.5 ha	Woods, Wetland, Riverine, Wet Pasture, Wood Pasture, Grassland, Volcanic Grassland, Dry Grassland, Scrub, Ancient semi natural Woodland,	Otters, Birds

Appendix 3: Schedule of Road Schemes and Threatened Sites

List of Abbreviations

KEY:

SPA Special Protection Area

Ramsar Ramsar Site: Internationaly recognised wetland site.

SSSI Site of Special Scientific Interest

AONB Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty

Wildlife site Site of local or regional importance to wildlife

Important Wildlife Sites Threatened in Montgomeryshire

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A548 Welshpool to the English border	Buttington Cross to Wollaston Cross Middleton by - pass	SJ 243089 - SJ 329119	SSSI (geological) Trewern Brook	Woodland and very large Badger sett	9.8 Km (length of actual new road) 0.4 Km affected	Three Setts affected by or adjacent to the proposed route. The Setts are very active and the Badgers have an extensive foraging range.
A470 Llangurig to Cwmbelan	East of Llangurig - Wern villa	SN 914798 - SN 950817	Wildlife Site - Bog SSSI Gwan Bwlch Hafodygog	Two sites affected : Bog, and Semi - natural dry rocky woodland.	1.9 KM	Tan Y Llwn Wildlife Site already destroyed by dumping of spoil without planing permission at the junction of the A470 and the A44 at Llangurig.
A470 Commins Coch	Commins Coch	SH 845030 - SH 857032	Near SSSI, and on Common land	SSSI very close to river Twgwyn. Grassland Ffridd. Ancient semi- Natural Woodland with Red wood Ant Colony	2.0 Km	Problems with overburden disposal effecting the river, Grassland and Ffridd drainage. Loss and destruction of Red Wood Ant Colony.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A470 Talerddig - Llanbrynmair	Talerddig - Llanbrynmair	SH 926010	Wildlife Site	Ancient semi - natural Broad-leaved woodland and grassland, river side of Afon Garno	2.0 Km	Damage to Woodland habitat and creation of drainage problems if overburden is not disposed of sensitively. Not mentioned in the T.P.P. (1995 - 1996)
A470 Bends south of Llandinam and Llandinam bypass.	Llandinam	SO 026888 - SO 024874	River valley, Flood plain. Geomorphological SSSI	The River valley and flood plain have important wildlife Habitats and landscapes.	2.41 KM	New road could lead to loss of flood - plain and wet Meadows and Meanders of river with associated breeding Waders.

Important Wildlife Sites Threatened in Radnor

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A470 Builth Wells Bypass	River Wye	SO 029525 - SO 044517	SSSI.	River and associated wildlife.	150 m	One or more new bridges impacting on bankside habitat. Impact on otter community.
	Llanelwedd rocks	SO 049518	SSSI	Dry grassland and scrub	0.5 km	Possible loss of grassland and scrub.
	Woods Henllan Brook	SO 035525	Wildlife Site.	Broad-leaved	4.5 ha	Total or partial loss.
Lugano	Old quarry tips	SO 052518	Wildlife Site.	Volcanic grassland	0.5 ha	Total loss of grassland and scrub.
A483 Improvements: Brynsadwrn	Brynsadwrn Wood	SO 041560	Wildlife Site.	Wood pasture	1.0 ha	Loss of some wood pasture.
	Forty Acre Wood	SO 043554	Wildlife Site.	Ancient semi-natural woodland.	0.5 km	Loss of some woodland.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
	Coedmawr Pasture	SO 044545	Wildlife Site.	Natural grassland.	1.0 km	Loss of small area of wet pasture
	Pencerrig	SO 047541	Wildlife Site.	Wetland	0.5 Km	Loss of some unimproved pasture, wetland and scrub
A483 Improvements: Esgairdraenllwyn.	Gweunydd Esgairdraenllwyn.	SO 085822	SSSI	Wetland	1.0 Km	Loss of significant part of wetland SSSI Possible denotification Loss of species rich wet flushes east of present road.
A481 Llanelwedd Quarry	Llanelwedd Quarry		None.			Minimal destruction of less popular area of site
Waterloo link road : Llandrindod	Waterloo Road	SO 064425	None.			Minimal destruction of less popular area of site

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
A438 Lower house : Clyro	Lower House, Clyro.		None.			Minimal destruction of less popular area of site
A481 Ithon Bridge : Llanyre	Crabtree Green meadows.	SO 053623	Proposed SSSI	Grassland	0.5 ha	Slight impact on Grassland site.
A4081 Tremain : Llanfaredd.	Llanfared.	SO 068825	Wildlife Site.	Broad-leaved Woodland	0.5 ha	Possible impact on ASNW.
B4356 Monaughty : Gravel Arch	River Lugg	SO 190721	Proposed SSSI	Riverine Habitat	0.5 ha	Possible impact.
A488 Bleddfa : Bank	Hillhouse Dingle	SO 195682	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	1.0 ha	Possible loss of woodland.
A488 Jackets : Bridge	Jackets Bridge Knighton	SO 278718	None			Minimal destruction of less popular area of site
C1205 Disserth : Bridge	River Ithon.	SO 035585	Wildlife Site.	Riverine Habitat Otter community	0.5 ha	Impact to riverside habitat.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Area of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
A470 Improvements: Cwmbach - Newbridge
	River Wye	SO 013598 and SO 030525	NCR/SSSI	Riverine habitat, Otters	3.O ha
	Glan Gwy Bog	SO 014598	Wildlife Site.	Wetland habitat	O.5 ha
	Merry Hall Pasture	SO 015590	Wildlife Site.	Grassland	1.0 ha
	Brynderwen Mire	SO 018590	Wildlife Site.	Wet Pasture	2.5 ha
	Redhouse Meadows	SO 019583	Wildlife Site.	Grassland	4.O ha
	Woodcastle Meadows	SO 024583	Wildlife Site.	Grassland	4.O ha
	Dol-tylchau Wood	SO 018573	None.	woodland	4.5 ha

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Area of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
	River Ithon	SO 020574	Wildlife Site.	Riverine habitat, Otters	5.0 ha
	Pont ar Ithon Pastures	SO 018574	Wildlife Site.	Grassland	4.O ha
	Dolfawr Woods	SO 021574	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	2.O ha
	Rhos-goch Woods	SO 019564	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	5.O ha
	Rhydfelin-fach	SO 021553	Wildlife Site.	Wetland	1.0 ha
	Smithfield Woods	SO 020551 and SO 023549	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	1.0 ha
	Nant y Prophwyd Woods	SO 023544	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	3.O ha
	Henllys Bottom	SO 025542	Wildlife Site.	Wetland	0.5 ha
	Dulas Brook Woods	SO 027536	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	3.0 ha

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Area of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
	Court Farm Wood	SO 027528	Wildlife Site.	Woodland	1.5 ha
	Penmaenau Rocks	SO 033525	Wildlife Site.	Grassland	1.0 ha

Important Wildlife Sites Threatened in Gwent

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Area of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
M4 Relief Road	Gwent Levels. The levels cover such a large area, it was divided into six sections to assist in SSSI designation. Thus there are six SSSI’s in total, of which Four are affected by the proposal.
	St Brides Nash and Goldcliff Redwick and Llandevenny Whitson		SSSI SSSI SSSI SSSI	A complex network of drainage channels provide a refuge for a nationally important assemblage of wetland species. Areas of scrub, hedgerow and some semi-improved grassland.	8.5 Km of SSSI, plus several Km of habitat which falls outside, but adjacent to the levels SSSI’s.	Would effect up to 27 species of flowering plant of county, regional or national importance. Would effect a nationally important assemblage of wetland invertebrates, and effect breeding birds typical of lowland wet grassland, including Lapwing, Redshank, and Acrocephalus warblers. Impacts on other species is difficult to assess owing to lack of data. However, Otter and Great Crested Newt have been recorded. There are concerns over habitat fragmentation, vehicular pollution, and opening the levels up to further development.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Area of wildlife habitat crossed by road (ha)	Comments
A465 Dueling	Abergavenny to Hirwaun	SO 300130 - SO 175130	Passes through or crosses the boundary of : Brecon Beacons National Park, Cwm Clydach NNR, Mynydd Llangattock SSSI, SAC for bats (p).	Geological SSSI. Beech woodland on the western edge of the natural range within Wales. Important bat hibernation site.		Passes through the base of Gorge. Will require major re-profiling and excavation to achieve new route.

Important Wildlife Sites threatened in North Wales

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
CLWYD
A5	Dee Valley Snowdonia.		SSSI, Wildlife site.	Various Habitats affected.		Exact route as yet unknown.
A525 Rhuddlan By-pass	River Clwyd	SJ 019782 SJ 022787	Wildlife Site.	Salt marsh Wetland & ponds	0.1 0.5
A548 Dee Crossing	Dee Estuary	SJ 291 709 SJ 298709	Wildlife Site.	Common Tern Colony		Adjacent to Common Tern colony
A5 Cerrig to Pentrefoelas	Cerrig - Pentrefoelas		SSSI (proposed)	Valley Mire and raised bog		The line is not yet Known but there is sure to be an impact.
A5 Glyn Bends	Glyn Bends		SSSI	Oak Woodland. Bat roost.		Under construction

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A548 Rhyl Relief road	Rhyl Tip and fields adjacent to Clwyd Estuary Pond Part of Bryn Cwnin wetland	SJ 002803 SJ 035809 SJ 025798	Wildlife site (proposed)	Rough grassland/ bare ground; ringed plover, skylark, grasshopper warbler Great-crested newts Unimproved wet grassland/ fen	0.5 0.03 0.05	This scheme increases the likelihood of other developments very damaging to Clwyd estuary It has been turned down following consultation

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A494 Llanbedr By-pass	Coed Wernog Coed Rhiwisg	SJ 156583 SJ 152586	Wildlife Site (proposed)	Ancient woodland Ancient woodland	0.12 0.07	Route deferred.
A550, A541 Caergwrle & Hope By-pass	Caeau Farm Wood Bradley Lane gravel pit.	SJ 313581 SJ 297586 SJ 316555	Wildlife Site. Wildlife site.	Unimproved meadow with ditches, ponds (5), wetlands. Oak dominated woodland Wet Woodland Waterbody	0.05 0.25 0.25	Some ponds containing Great Crested Newt. Important local and national site for dragonflies including the Emperor Dragonfly Anax imperator; Sympertrum sanguineum (Ruddy Darter),a locally sparse species, uncommon plant species include the large flowered Waterweed and Hippuris vulgaris, (Marestail) a rare species in Wales.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A51252 Plough Lane Link Road	Wepre Wood	SJ 296 685	Wildlife Site.	Ancient Woodland with Oak, Sycamore, Beech, one of the best examples in Wales. Ponds.		Wepre Woods is locally important and covering 31 ha. The woods provide a habitat for a number of uncommon plant species as well as for typical faunal species.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
GWYNEDD
A5 Pont Padog			SNP
A5 Bethesda By-pass	Coed Meurig	SH 624662		Woodland, partly ancient	0.75
A5 Halfway Bridge	Tyddyn Dicwm Parc y Moch	SH 606689 SH 612679	SSSI Wildlife site (proposed)	Unimproved grassland Ancient woodland	0.33 0.6	Platanthera chlorantha Landscape Conservation Area
A55 Llanfair - Nant Turnpike	Malltraeth Marsh Parc y Coed	SH 463733 SH 475725	Wildlife Site. (proposed)	Marshy fields and ditches Oak woodland	1.25 0.15	Habitat of SSSI quality
A55 Bryngwran - Holyhead	Beddmanarch - Cymyran Caergeiliog reedbed Caergeiliog pond	SH 280801 SH 302786 SH 308783	SSSI Wildlife site	Variety of coastal habitats Reedbed Pond	0.33 0.04 0.03	Salt marsh, close to site of Arctic tern colony Drainage maybe affected
A55 Nant Turnpike - Bryngwran	Tafarn y Grib Marsh Hendre Fawr wetland	SH 377761 SH 420745	Wildlife Sites.	Basin mire Marshy acid grassland	0.06 0.06	Drainage maybe affected

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
Gwynedd
A470 Llanrwst By-pass	Coed Afon Bach Coed y Garth	SH 805623 SH 810613		Wooded river valley Wooded river valley	0.1 0.04
A470 Cancoed - Minffordd	Gorddinon	SH 708505	National Park, Wildlife Site. (Proposed)	Valley mire	0.45
A470 Dolydd - Pont yr Afanc	Lledr Hall Rhiw Goch Fairy Glen	SH 758540 SH 762541 SH 798542	National Park, Wildlife Site. (Proposed) SSSI, Nat. Park	Oak woodland Heath/ acid grassland Rocky gorge	0.3 0.6 0.25	Loss of stream
A487 Porthmadog - Tremadog	Glaslyn Marshes	SH 587391	SSSI.	Coastal marsh & grassland	0.22	Part of NWWT reserve. Limosella australis, Eleocharis vesicularis, Ranunculus baudotti, Polygonum minus
A487 Llanwnda -Llanllyfni	Grafog Garth Dorwen Dôl Gau Bron Haul	SH 471552 SH 469539 SH 467520 SH 470502	Wildlife Sites, (Proposed)	Marsh Marsh Marsh Hazel/ Willow scrub	0.23 0.35 0.18 0.15

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
Gwynedd
A487 Caernarfon - Bont Newydd By-pass *					9.0	Consultation zone includes a mosaic of semi-improved and marshy grassland with pockets of woodland and crosses the wooded Afon Seiont, an important local river for otters
A494 Drws y Nant	Coed y Wenallt		National Park.	AW	0.5
A497 Abererch - Llanstumdwy	Tal y Bont	SH 430370	Wildlife Site. (Proposed)	Damp Herb-rich grassland	0.25
A499 Aberdesach - Llanaelhaearn *		SH 344445	AONB		9.0	Consultation zone includes areas of marshy and acid grassland, scrub, woodland, heath and Coed Cwmgwared SSSI.

* Schemes for which alignments have not yet been identified

Important Wildlife Sites Threatened in Dyfed

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A44	Aberystwyth Bypass		SSSI			Proposed road cuts into Rheidol shingles and Backwaters SSSI
A487	Furnace bridge - Eglwys Fach		SSSI Ramsar site			Potential damage to both SSSI and Ramsar site. Adjacent to NNR.
A485 Ceridigion Road Link	Carmarthen to Alltwalis			Hedgerows Dormice Active Badger Setts Otters
A486 Ceridigion link road	Alt Wallis to Llandysul
A486 Ceridigion link road	Llandysul to Synod Inn		SSSI			Possible damage to nearby SSSI.
A40 Whitland bypass						Badger Setts may be affected relocation may be necessary.
A40 Carmarthen Eastern Bypass			SSSI

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A483 Landeilo Eastern bypass			SSSI (Geological)	Otters
A476 Gwendraeth Valley Link
A474 Ammam valley Link				Otters
A40 Pontargothi Diversion

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
Pembrokeshire
A40 Fishguard western By - pass
A40 Robeston Wathen Bypass	Canaston Bridge					Adjacent to National Park, , SSSI.
A477 Sageton - Redberth Bypass	Sageton		National Park			Adjacent to SSSI
A487 Haverford West St. David’s link Road			ESA
A4139 Pembroke Western Relief

Important Wildlife Sites Threatened in Brecknock

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A479 Talgarth Bypass	Valley of the Afon Dulas	SO 145344	None	Riverine and associated Broad-leaved seminatural woodland.	0.2 Km	Threatens habitat of the lesser horseshoe bat species. May effect the habitat of Otters, Kingfishers and Sand Martins.
	Pendre Wood	SO 154325	National park	Broad-leaved woodland.	0.25 Km	Breaks up Woodland corridor near to an SSSI, having an adverse affect on dormouse habitat and that of other endangered species.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A470 Felinfach Bypass	Afon Dulas headwaters	SO 089327	None	Stream, woodland and quarry	0.1 Km	Realignment of river and intended road breaks up hedgerow corridors used by Lesser Horseshoe bats and Dormice. It also divides a badger clan from its feeding ground.
A483 Builth Wells Bypass	Cilmery	SO 008514	None	Broad-leaved plantation.	0.1 Km
	Nr Pont Luhonw	SO 059513	None	Unimproved grassland. (Acid or Neutral)	0.14 Km	Adjacent to oak wood and conifer plantation and close to river bank.
	Nr Park Villas	SO 029523	None	Semi improved grass and heath containing lichens or bryophyte.	0.18 Km	Impact on this ground is inevitable.

Important Wildlife Sites Threatened in Glamorgan

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
Proposed M4 widening to 6 lanes between Castleton and Coryton	Parc Cefn Onn	ST 178840	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland, ponds and ornamental grounds.	0.5	Semi natural woodland and formal ornamental grounds with a series of gravity fed ponds. Flora associated with ancient woodland is abundant including Wood horsetail, Butchers broom and drooping sedge.
	Craig-Llwyn Road Wood	ST 195838	Wildlife Site	Ancient woodland and stream.	0.5	Semi-natural Oak/Alder damp woodland with monkshood and a varied fungi flora.
Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Coedifanbychan/ Coedtirhwnt	ST 168833	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland	0.5	Semi-natural Oak, Ash and Beech woodland, with localised Alder. The wood has a diverse ground flora associated with its antiquity, including Soft Shield-Fern and Scaly male fern
	Nant y Briwant Complex	ST 160825	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland, Rough Grassland, Marshland and Stream.	0.5	Semi-natural Oak / Alder woodland with excellent stream-side fauna and associated marshland with Marsh Valerian, Bristle Club-rush and Bog Pimpernel.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Briwant-Isaf Wood	ST 159830	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland and Marshland.	0.5	Semi-natural Oak / Alder woodland with marshland containing Louse wart.
	Malthouse Wood	ST 208832	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland.	0.5	Semi-natural Alder / Ash with Oak Woodland noted for Thin-spiked Wood / sedge.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	River Rhymney	ST 224819	Wildlife Site	Tidal River.	0.5 - 1.0	Bank-side vegetation at risk. River itself important for migratory fish, otters, wildfowl. Acts as a major wildlife corridor.
	Nant Glandulais Stream Complex.		Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5 - 1.0	Important unimproved tributary stream complex.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Nant Glandulais.	ST 205634	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5 - 1.0	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation with Monkshood proliferating.
	Nant y Draenog	ST 202828	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Nant y Felin	ST 192837	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation
	Nant tydraw Fach	ST 189842	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Nant Ty Draw	ST 188837	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation
	Nant Transh yr hebog	ST 180837	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Nant Nofydd	ST132823	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation
	Nant y Briwnant	ST 159833	Wildlife Site	Stream.	0.5	Unimproved tributary with diverse bankside vegetation

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A473 Llanharan Bypass	Brynnau Woods	SS 986829	Wildlife Site	Secondary broad-leaved woodland.		Old mine site affected, including a badger sett. The most westerly population of dormice found in the trust area will also suffer.
	Llanharan Marsh	SS 993830	Wildlife Site	Mollinia marshy grassland with succissa		De-notified SSSI. Marsh fritillary colony will be affected.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A473 Church Village Bypass	Fields east of Dyffryn Bach, Llantwit Fardre	ST 091854	Wildlife Site	Mollinia marshy grassland with succissa		Marsh fritillary colony will be affected.
A473- M4 Capel Llaniltern Link	Pencoed Wood	ST 092800	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland		Broad-leaved semi-natural woodland will be affected.

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
A465 Heads of the Valley road Proposed dualing	Nant-Moel-Isaf Wood	SN 979064	Wildlife Site	Ancient Woodland		Broad-leaved semi-natural woodland will be affected.
	Nant Melyn; Headwaters of the river Cynon.	SS 979062	Wildlife Site	Riparian vegetation		Otter Migration to the area may be affected

Road Scheme	Site Name and Location	Grid Ref.	Status	Wildlife habitats or other features affected	Length of wildlife habitat crossed by road (km)	Comments
	Nant Hir reservoir	SS 989070	Wildlife Site	Riparian vegetation		Wintering and nesting wildfowl will be affected.
	Cwm Nant Hir Woodland	SN 989071	Wildlife Site			Broad-leaved semi-natural woodland will be affected.

References

CEC (1985): Council Directive on the Effects of Certain Public and Private Projects

on the Environment. CEC, Brussels.

Chris Blandford Associates (1994a): Study of the Potential Impact of Wales' Roads Programme on Wildlife, Habitats and the Landscape. Blackboys, West Sussex.

DoT (1993a): Design Manual for Roads and Bridges: Volume II, Environmental

Assessment. London,, DoT.

Royal Commission on Environmental Pollution (1994): Transport and the Environment. London, HMSO.

Transport 2000 / New Economics Foundation (1991): What Are Roads Worth ? Fair Assessment For Transport Expenditure. Transport 2000 / New Economics Foundation.

Fowles, A. (1994) : Invertebrates of Wales : A Review of Important Sites and Species (JNCC, Peterborough).

NCC - Nature Conservancy Council (1982) : The Gwent Levels - the Past, Present and Future in Relation to Nature Conservation (NCC, Cardiff).

RSPB - Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (1984) : A Survey of the Breeding Waders of the Gwent Levels (RSPB, Newtown, Wales).

RSPB (1994) Transport and Biodiversity : a discussion paper. (RSPB study).

Welsh Office (1994): M4 Relief Road - Second Public Consultation (a brochure issued to the public with details of the proposal). (Welsh Office, Cardiff).

Welsh Office (1994): Roads in Wales. (Welsh Office, Cardiff)

Department of Transport (1991): Assessing the environmental impact of road schemes. (SACTRA D.O.T. London)

Countryside Commission (1991).