The ‘Beacon of Light’, located on the Lichfield Road/Wood End Road island, has been driven by the local community and funded and supported by City of Wolverhampton Council.

The landmark sculpture showcases the best of Wednesfield through the ages, with symbolic nods to community, history, market/businesses traders, nature, park playing fields, music and bridges into the town – and features the words Respect, Be Kind and Remember.

The three-sided sculpture, fabricated by Milden Steels Ltd, has been funded by the UK Government through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund, and is visible from all directions on the key gateway into the town centre.

It is made from 316-grade stainless steel with an internal uplighter and stands at five-and-a-half metres on the plinth built by the council’s highways team as part of an overall upgrade to the island.

Fittingly, the lights were switched on for the first time on Armistice Day this week, marking a direct link to the Lancaster Bomber featured in the sculpture that commemorates the seven airmen who died when the plane crashed in the area in 1945.

Councillor Chris Burden, City of Wolverhampton Council Cabinet Member for City Development, Jobs and Skills, said: “The Wednesfield community has once again come together to create a fantastic sculpture that does the town proud and signifies all its best qualities and history.

“The council was delighted to play a supporting role in helping secure funding for the sculpture and I’d like to thank our landscape architect and the highways team for working hard with the community to deliver this.”

Local businessman, owner of Elegant Frames & Mirrors and Chair of Wednesfield Business Alliance, Jay Baso, who helped coordinate local community involvement in the design, said: “I am hugely proud to have been involved in this project and would like to take the opportunity to thank all those involved.

“The sculpture represents all the things that are great about Wednesfield. It’s a beacon of positivity for all to see and will hopefully be loved and cherished for generations to come.”