Campaigners in Inverkip have shared their relief after plans to install traffic lights on the A78 were given long-awaited approval.

Inverclyde Council's environment and regeneration committee has signed off on the full business case for the lights at Main Street North and Kip Marina, as well as plans for a T-junction at Brueacre to the south of the village.

The aim of the £4.15m project is to unlock investment at the vacant Inverkip Power Station site, which is currently earmarked for a 650-home development, and to improve road safety on the A78.

Ward councillor Paul Cassidy said he welcomed the approval of the plans, but said he remained disappointed at the length of time it has taken to reach this stage.

Traffic lights are to be installed at the northern access point to Inverkip, pictured, as well as at the junction for Kip Marina.Traffic lights are to be installed at the northern access point to Inverkip, pictured, as well as at the junction for Kip Marina. (Image: George Munro)

He said: "Initially conceived as the first Glasgow City Region Deal project to be undertaken in Inverclyde, the Inverkip project has become the last to receive the green light, after facing numerous obstacles put in its place by Transport Scotland and Scottish Power.

"However, the project has now successfully cleared its final hurdle."

The Inverclyde South West representative continued: "To say that the residents of Inverkip and Wemyss Bay have been waiting a long time for this would be an understatement.

"I want to extend my gratitude to the residents of Inverkip and Wemyss Bay, as well as the Inverkip & Wemyss Bay Community Council, who have campaigned tirelessly for this project, alongside my predecessors, former Councillors [Gerry] Dorrian and [Ciano] Rebecchi.

"While the project's primary aim is to unlock investment, for villagers, it represents a critical step towards addressing the long-standing safety issues at the Inverkip Junction.”

Councillor Cassidy said the original plan to install a roundabout at the Inverkip junction was withdrawn by Transport Scotland at the last minute, and that despite a community campaign, the government had refused to reconsider.

Despite these efforts, Transport Scotland ultimately refused.

READ MORE: Roads bosses grilled over changes to A78 junction plan at former power station site

Cllr Cassidy said: “It's important to note that nothing would have been done to address the safety issues at the Inverkip junction without the council including the site in the City Deal initiative.

"This is because Transport Scotland does not consider the junction a major accident hotspot.”

But he warned that the approval of the two sets of traffic lights will not eradicate all his fears about future traffic levels on the trunk road.

“I have concerns about whether the A78 will be able to handle the increased traffic if all the planned homes on the former power station site are built," he added.

"I am calling on Transport Scotland to step up to the plate and bring forward investment and improvements to the A78 infrastructure before a single house is built on the site.

“This project should only be seen as a starting point to the improvements that need to be made to the A78.

READ MORE: Green light for plan to build 650 new homes at former Inverkip power station

"It's disappointing that it took the council to secure this investment and take the lead rather than Transport Scotland, which is responsible for the road.”

Community councillors have backed Mr Cassidy's sentiments, saying that just because there had been no fatal accidents at the junction didn't make it safe in its current form.

Eileen Virtue, secretary of Inverkip and Wemyss Bay Community Council said: "It is such a dangerous junction. We welcome anything that will improve road safety.

"There have been a series of accidents so far. Injuries have been the worst of it.

"There have been so many near misses, but according to Transport Scotland it isn't a blackspot.

"It's a busy junction. The line of sight is bad when leaving the village into the A78 because of cars using the slip road entering the village.

"I think traffic lights will enable people to get out of the village."

Dave Robinson, the community council's chair, added: "I am pleased there is going to be a speed limit on the road.

"One of the problems with the junction is that when a car comes down the slip road, it blocks the vision of cars coming out of the village on to the A78.

"You can also be sitting for five minutes trying to get out, so there's the road management issue as well.

"I think it will make the roads safer."

It is anticipate that work on the road improvements will begin next March.