A START date is needed for work to start on the M4 Relief Road, according to the leader of the opposition in the Assembly.

The Conservative’s Andrew RT Davies said since the UK Government had announced borrowing and taxation powers for Wales, it was up to the first minister and Welsh Government to get on with the job.

However a consultation on plans for a new M4 is ongoing, while an Assembly committee heard earlier this month that the scheme could suffer years of delays because of opposition to it.

Carwyn Jones has suggested that the road could be built by 2020 – but Plaid and the Assembly’s Lib Dems have suggested that other projects should be pursued to solve the issue of the M4 and not a new motorway on the Gwent Levels.

The Tory leader told a press conference yesterday that the Welsh Government had said throughout the summer it wanted to get on with the project, but said that they “clearly don’t seem to have any strategy for delivery” for the road.

He wouldn’t be drawn on his own timescale but said the party would like to see it completed “as soon as possible”.

An Assembly committee heard in November that it was unlikely the new M4 would be built by 2020 amid great environmental opposition to the scheme.

Mr Davies said that the environmental arguments had been there since the project was mooted in the early 90s, and “one would hope” that those arguments have been explored and tested with suitable “safety measures” being put in place.

Mr Davies said: “The tools have been provided. Now it’s up to Carwyn Jones and Welsh Labour to get on with the job.”

Challenged on whether there could be cheaper projects elsewhere that could make a more meaningful contribution to the Welsh economy in Mid and North Wales, Tory shadow minister for transport Byron Davies said the M4 is our “main artery” and the way Wales gets its goods in and out.

“I think it is worth the investment. I don’t think there’s a route in Wales that could match that”, Byron Davies said.

The UK Government announced last month that Wales would be allowed to borrow for the M4 Relief Road, ahead of getting general borrowing powers.

It would also be able to levy small taxes such as stamp duty and landfill tax, and will be offered a referendum on devolving some income tax powers

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “We are currently consulting on options to improve the M4 around Newport so it would be inappropriate to comment further at this stage.”