Questions asked over M54 island traffic lights

They were first insisted on because of the development of the i54 business park.

But, after that scheme stalled, work to erect traffic lights at Junction 2 of the M54 near Wolverhampton carried on regardless - and drivers are set to pay the penalty with fears of long delays.

The Highways Agency claims the £2.6 million scheme was justified because of safety concerns on the huge roundabout on the A449 Stafford Road.

But today that claim has also been challenged by business leaders, who are concerned that the lights will simply cause congestion on one of the region's busiest junctions.

The lights are set to be switched on at the end of the month, despite no development actually starting on the nearby 237-acre i54 site. The Highways Agency said that the lights are being installed because 78 people have been injured in 51 collisions over five years, although none were seriously hurt.

But business leaders from the Black Country Chamber of Commerce today demanded answers on why the money is being spent despite all accidents having been classified as "slight" - bumps and scrapes not normally considered serious enough for major changes to a junction.

Colin Leighfield, chairman of the chamber's transport policy group, said: "Chamber of Commerce members have raised serious concerns that such a large amount of taxpayers' money has been spent when no serious accidents have occurred.

"We have asked for a further meeting to explain the decision."

Highways Agency spokesman Nathan Wallis said it had studied police statistics on accidents at the island, adding: "The installation of traffic signals at this junction should reduce the overall number and the impact of collisions at this important junction."

The scheme was originally dreamed up as part of changes to the road layout in preparation for the i54 business park at Fordhouses, which is meant to bring 6,000 jobs to the area.

Regional development agency Advantage West Midlands decided not to go ahead with the lights at the M54 junction but the Highways Agency said it would pick up the tab because of the safety issue.