STATEMENT: Changes to the Green roundabout in Newport.

This morning I spoke at Newport Council’s Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee.

I spoke on behalf of over 1,700 residents who signed a petition to stop plans to remove the Old Green roundabout near the city centre.

2,600 people also filled out the TfW Public Consultation - with a majority saying “NO!”

Many thousands more have spoken out against the plans on social media.

In 2023, a freedom of information (FOI) request to TfW revealed 3,000 vehicles are passing over the roundabout in the rush hour. 

500 vehicles every 10 minutes.

Under the plans, we will see 7 sets of ‘traffic lights’ on a road junction. 

We may see possible wait times of up to 6 to 12 minutes - dependent on whether you can traverse through the traffic lights at the first attempt whilst queuing in the traffic. This could be worse in the rush hour.

The cost is estimated at £35 million and could rise to £40 million with inflation. It is an obscene waste of money for changes to a roundabout that presently functions well. 

These changes will ‘gridlock’ a crucial area of the city.

City centre businesses will be hit the hardest. How many shoppers may simply avoid the area and replan with visits to Cwmbran or Spytty (where parking is free).

Similar changes made in Oxford with bike and bus lanes - failed. We have since seen congestion charging introduced there. The same will happen in Newport in ten years time should these barmy plans go ahead. 

In April 2025, WalesOnline ran with the headline “There are plans to scrap a busy city roundabout and people are ‘livid’ about it”

Similarly, the South Wales Argus posted an article titled “Anger over plans to remove Old Green Roundabout Newport”

I made it is abundantly clear to the committee members that a vast majority of residents are opposed to these changes. 

It is a firm “NO”.

Newport Council should withdraw any future support for this project or at the very least ask for alternatives.

Please note: The petition was submitted in December and has now closed. Thank you to everyone who signed.

We will continue to fight against the changes.

Michael Enea (Lead Campaigner).