ENVIRONMENTAL campaigners vowed to fight plans for an M4 relief road that could see 200 acres of Gwent wetlands buried under five-miles of motorway.

Members of the Campaign Against Levels Motorway (CALM) claimed the proposed road, designed to ease congestion on the M4, would cause massive damage to the nationally important Gwent Levels site by destroying reens and grassland rich in wildlife.

The dual three lane motorway would link junction 23A at Magor with junction 29 at Castleton, with two new junctions proposed for the city. The motorway would be around 100 metres wide and would run directly through five miles of the picturesque Gwent Levels.

Members of the group, which is made up of a number of environmental groups, including the Gwent Wildlife Trust (GWT) and Friends of the Earth Cymru, gave local residents a guided tour around the Sites of Special Scientific Interest yesterday.

Julian Branscombe, from GWT, told the gathered crowd they must fight the Assembly plans when a public inquiry is held, probably in 2009.

"We have to change the Assemby's mind. This is the best wetland site in Wales and we are going to destroy it with what we are doing here.

"The motorway will be just the start of another phase of destruction," he said.

He added that pollution from construction and emissions could affect a vast amount of the 14,000 acre site by polluting the many connected reens.

Campaigners say roadbuilding would also drive down the quality of life for local residents, increase carbon dioxide emissions and cost millions in public money.

Magor councillor John Major said: "Residents are concerned. It will make Magor like a spaghetti junction."

Undy resident John Staton described the plans as a waste of money, adding: "It is going to affect global warming. I would rather see the money spent on hospitals, education or just helping people."

The Gwent Levels are currently home to 25 rare species of water plants, otters, water voles and 144 species of rare dragonflies.

Accidents fuel calls for relief road Calls for the relief road increased last year after the M4 was closed for 11 hours when a lorry overturned, fatally killing the driver.

Colin Hart, from Paulsgove, near Portsmouth, died when his HGV smashed through the central barrier in the early hours of August 2.

The M4 was closed between junctions 24 and 28 for 11 hours, causing five mile tailbacks and paralysing Newport city centre.

In September, 2007, motorway traffic was crippled once again after five people died in a head-on collision.

James Stafford, 69, and his wife Bridget, 70, were killed while driving to their home in Thornton Heath, Surrey, after a trip to Ireland when their Volvo was hit by a Ford Mondeo travelling on the wrong side of the carriageway.

Three occupants of the Mondeo, Lee Maggs, Christopher Beresford and Same Case, all from Newport, also died.