Water voles endangered by a new road

Water voles are seriously in danger of extinction, since they proliferate in a zone, the so called “Wales’ Amazon rainforest”, which is under threat of destruction. Green groups want to demonstrate against the planned construction of a motorway that will cut across vast swathes of the Gwent Levels, north of Newport. This site is important not only for water voles, but also for otters, bees and wildflowers: Welsh wildlife will be ruined «for the sake of saving 10 minutes’ journey time».

It was Gwent Wildlife Trust that six years ago reintroduced water voles to a site on the edge of the Levels. Mission accomplished, since a new study showed how the rodents bred successfully up to six miles from the launch site. A very important result for the UK’s most vulnerable mammals, which have been lost 94 per cent of their original exemplars. This result could also help critics of the planned construction in their aim of saving these precious wetlands.

Local ecologists fought the new M4 corridor (which is 14-mile-long with six lanes) during a public inquiry that concluded in March, and now they’re expecting a decision on the fate of the Levels. Meanwhile the Welsh government defend itself by arguing that the M4 is a route of “strategic importance” for the region, and is not capable of dealing with the current volume of traffic that uses it. Indeed, in government’s closing statement at the inquiry we can read that «opponents of the scheme have generally been reluctant to acknowledge the environmental benefits which it would bring». «Notably in terms of improved air quality and noise conditions for the thousands of people who live close to the current, overloaded M4», government said.

According to different valuations, the new project would cost between £1bn and £2bn, so local conservationists decided to support future generations commissioner for Wales, Sophie Howe, who suggested to use this money on improving public transport system. Also Ian Rappel, chief executive of Gwent Wildlife Trust, said the success of the water vole reintroduction programme was «bittersweet». «If the new road gets the go-ahead billions will be spent destroying a very special place for the sake of saving 10 minutes of commuting time» he said.

The Wildlife Trusts have launched a campaign to save the Levels in order to preserve the habitat for future generations and to protect rare Welsh wildlife. «When future generations realise the extent of the damage this generation has wreaked on our finite, beautiful, natural world they will ask “why?” Why, for the sake of a few minutes knocked off journey times, did we destroy the unique and irreplaceable Gwent Levels», said Wildlife Trusts chief executive Stephanie Hilborne. «We do not have the right to destroy this treasure or deprive future generations of its joy», she concluded.