THE spectre of the controversial M4 relief road being built across the Gwent Levels was revived by Welsh Secretary Peter Hain yesterday. He re-ignited the row over the proposed road when he suggested it as a possible toll road.

And Mr Hain (pictured) called on the National Assembly, who controversially shelved the plans last year, to look again at reviving the scheme.

But his words are likely to revive the fierce debate involving the environmental cost of building the road, let alone imposing a toll.

The project aims to relieve the notorious congestion around the Brynglas Tunnels bottleneck by building a new road between Magor and Castleton and has the full backing of Newport council who says it would have major economic benefits for the whole of south Wales.

Britain's first toll motorway opened on the M6 around Birmingham yesterday where car drivers travelling on the 27-mile stretch of road now pay £2.

Mr Hain proposed putting in speed restrictions through the Brynglas Tunnels while allowing motorists to pay for the privilege of travelling on the new road at motorway speeds.

"I hope this project will be revisited by the Assembly in the future as the Brynglas Tunnels create a desperately difficult bottleneck which has been getting worse every year," he said.

But Andrew Davies, Assembly minister for transport and economic development, said: "The secretary of state has not raised this matter with me, although naturally I am interested in his views.

"This is a devolved matter and the Assembly government will consider this and other proposals in the context of our determination to provide an integrated and uncongested transport network for Wales."

A Newport council spokeswoman said the issue of tolls had not been considered by the authority at this stage, but added: "The council has always fully supported the plans for the M4 Relief Road."

Former Assembly transport minister Sue Essex put the £350m scheme on hold in March 2002, saying she wanted to see if the new Southern Distributor Road and public transport improvements eased on congestion.

Newport West AM Rosemary Butler said after the decision: "I'm disappointed. The M4 is not just a problem for Newport." A spokeswoman for the AA said there was little doubt the move would ease congestion - but at a price.

She said: "You're cutting off Wales when you start talking about toll roads. Motorists pay to get over the bridge and just a few miles down the road they're going to have to pay again."

She said a £1 charge could alienate Wales in terms of businesses looking to set up here. "It's really going to make motorists completely enraged...most already feel 'well, I've paid £4.50 to get over the bridge'."