The subject of an M4 relief road hit the headlines again last week after it emerged that the Assembly’s Environment and Sustainability Committee had raised questions over the Welsh Government’s preferred route.

A letter sent by the cross-party committee asked the Transport Minister Edwina Hart for answers on 22 separate points of concern about the Welsh Government’s preferred ‘black route’ option - an entirely new stretch of motorway south of Newport.

The letter came as the committee sought to wrap up its inquiry into the new road ahead of the summer recess.

Indeed, it is essential that it does so, because Ministers have said they will announce their plans for the M4 this summer.

At the time of writing, no response from the Minister has appeared on the committee’s website.

Some of those concerns expressed by the committee in its letter chime with those that we have expressed at FSB Wales.

We believe that relief for the M4 around Newport is needed as soon as possible. The route that the Welsh Government has put on the table simply would not provide the rapid relief to the current problems that is needed.

But the concern that the black route would take too long to deliver is not our only concern. The new motorway that is being proposed would see businesses in Newport bypassed on both sides, leaving trade to bypass the city to Cardiff in the west and Bristol to the east.

The £1bn road would also leave little money for other road and rail projects in South East Wales or Wales more generally.

Thankfully an option exists that will allow the Welsh Government to square the circle. The ‘blue route’ proposed by transport expert Professor Stuart Cole proposes upgrading the existing Southern Distributor Road and the former Llanwern Steelworks road. At £380m it is considerably more affordable than the black route and would still provide access to the city.

Whether the Welsh Government will take up that sensible and affordable option is something we will find out in the coming months.