IOLO WILLIAMS spoke out tonight as he publically backed the Campaign Against the Levels Motorway at a public meeting.

The TV Presenter, and expert on wildlife delivered a speech to around 100 people at Newport Wetlands as he discussed why the Welsh Assembly should not press ahead with the plans to build a new relief road across the Gwent Levels.

Speaking exclusively to the Argus, Mr Williams expressed his disbelief at the proposals.

“It genuinely doesn't make sense,” he said. “We have a financially viable alternative choice but for some reason the Welsh Assembly is not opting to go for it.

“If the Welsh Government go ahead with their devastating plan to pour concrete all over this special site for wildlife, the future for these important species in the area is very bleak.

“The levels are a fantastic place to visit but to hear motorway traffic going past and less wildlife would break my heart.”

The new motorway will cost an estimated £1.25 billion but viable and cheaper options have been pushed forward by CALM – such as an enhancement of the A48 Southern Distributor Road.

“Figures show traffic hasn’t gone up in the past eight years,” added Mr Williams. “It’s stayed at the same level so why is this needed?

“The alternative costs £350 million and the £800 million saving is the equivalent of five new hospitals.

“Not only this but it preserves the Gwent Levels so it’s a win win yet they’re not going for it and I genuinely don’t understand why.”

The Welsh Government is currently consulting on the motorway proposals but has refused to listen to the alternative options proposed.

Tom Clarke, 43, chairman of CALM, said: “You’ve got to wonder what is going to be cut to spend money on a road that simply isn’t needed.”

The leader of the opposition in the Assembly has said a date needs to be set for work to start on the M4 relief road.

The Conservatives' 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.

Carwyn Jones has suggested that the road could be built by 2020 – but Plaid Cymru 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.

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.”