Controversial plans to close M4 Port Talbot junction changed

Residents and local businesses are due to attend a public meeting later to discuss continuing concerns over the trial closure of Junction 41, Port Talbot.

The meeting comes as the trial closure period draws to an end, but a decision as to whether it will re-open is yet to be made.

The westbound slip road has now been closed during peak times since August of last year in an effort to ease traffic problems.

Local businesses say they've seen a drop in trade, with the town centre regularly descending into traffic chaos.

The meeting will be held from 6pm at the Princess Royal Theatre.

Campaigners say more than 100 people have protested at the Senedd this lunchtime, over controversial plans to partially close an M4 junction in Port Talbot.

They handed in a petition with more than 22,000 signatures, opposing the plans for Junction 41 of the motorway.

Plans to close the junction were announced by the Welsh Government in March, as part of a trial to ease congestion.

Both the westbound on-slip and eastbound off-slip roads had been earmarked for trial closure, but last week it was announced that those plans had been altered and that a peak-time closure of the westbound on-slip only will be trialled from August.

The protesters oppose any closure, saying it will hit trade and worsen traffic problems in Port Talbot.

Around 300 Port Talbot residents and traders are expected to travel to the Senedd today to protest against the proposed closure of a junction of the M4 into the town.

The group will hand over a petition which has been signed by thousands of people who oppose the plans, claiming it will cut off the town.

Both the westbound on-slip and eastbound off-slip roads had originally been earmarked for a trial closure. But last week it was announced that those plans had been alteredand that a peak-time closure of the Westbound on-slip only will be trialled from August.

The Plaid Cymru AM for South West Wales has criticised as 'half-hearted' an announcement of changed plans to close Junction 41 of the M4 motorway. Bethan Jenkins said the move is 'cynical opportunism.'

Controversial plans to close Junction 41 of the M4 motorway from August have been altered, it has been announced.

Both the westbound on-slip and eastbound off-slip roads had been earmarked for a trial closure, but instead a peak-time closure of the Westbound on-slip only will be trialled.

A decision will then be made on whether to proceed with full-time trial closures.

Plans to close Junction 41 at Port Talbot were announced in March as part of a trial to ease congestion.

But thousands of residents put their names to a petition, expressing concern that the move would hit trade and cause additional traffic problems in the town.

Neath Port Talbot council leader Ali Thomas, who had been in discussions with Minister Edwina Hart over the plans, said it was a "huge step forward".

Traders and residents of Port Talbot are due to attend a public meeting later to discuss concerns over the impact a planned trial closure of an M4 junction will have on the town.

So far a petition against plans to close Junction 41 has gathered around 13,500 signatures, including those of Aberavon AM Hywel Francis and Canon Nigel Cahil, the rector of Aberavon.

It's expected one of the main purposes of today's meeting is to decide a date to travel to the Senedd and lobby Business Minister Edwina Hart, who has agreed to the trial.

Watch: Traders fear over impact of Port Talbot junction closure

Traders in Port Talbot say they fear jobs and businesses will be hit hard if the Welsh Government goes ahead with plans to close two motorway junctions that serve the town.

Proposals have been made to close both junctions 40 and 41. The suggestion is being made to reduce bottlenecks and improve safety.

The stretch is one of the oldest pieces of motorway in Wales and it regularly sees long delays. But traders have launched a petition saying the plan would kill their businesses. Sarah Powell has been speaking to some of them.

Paul Watter, from the AA, told ITV News that bottlenecks on motorways can be incredibly dangerous, because they spill back on to the carriageway. He said that it was understandable for work to be carried out to reduce congestion, but it would come with difficulty for the local area.

Residents and traders in Port Talbot fear the closure of the junctions would lead to the town being 'cut off' from business.

Steve Redmore, manager of Aberafan Shopping Centre, said the closure would restrict people coming into the town, which is not needed in the current economic climate.

Traders in Port Talbot have set up a petition against the possible closures of the M4 junctions leading to their town.

Proposals have been made to close slip roads at junction 40 and 41 - two of the main entrances in and out of Port Talbot - for a six month trial over the summer months.

The Welsh Government says it is looking to reduce traffic congestion in the area, but no decisions have yet been made.