CALLS are being made to "investigate and hold to account" County Hall's Conservative leadership over the Ketch botch-up - amid claims three suspended council workers could end up scapegoats.

Councillor Richard Udall, the chairman of Worcestershire County Council's Labour group, says he is concerned it is "too easy to suspend people and try to pin the blame on them".

His comments have been rejected by the Tory cabinet, which says the current investigation over the Ketch island's £8 million revamp must be allowed to conclude independently.

As your Worcester News exclusively revealed yesterday, three workers have been suspended on gardening leave while an independent probe takes place over the roundabout saga.

Councillor Udall, who knew nothing about the suspensions until this newspaper revealed it, said: "I welcome an investigation, but suspending people in advance of the outcome smacks of pre-determination.

"I'm worried they could become scapegoats for senior councillors who directed the project.

"A bad workman blames his tools - members of the Conservative administration who forced through the decision to do this work should also be investigated and held to account for their actions. "The decision to do the work was political and politicians cannot, and must not escape the blame."

He has also called for the "full terms of reference" of the investigation to be made public, saying the "whole issue is now clouded in secrecy".

"I suspect it has become too easy to suspend people and to try and pin the blame on them, this must not happen, we need assurances about it," he said, "We need to ensure no stone is left unturned and nobody in authority gets away with blaming council employees for their own mistakes and decisions."

The suspended employees are all below senior director level and work on highways projects in Worcestershire.

Councillor John Smith, the cabinet member for highways, said: "This is an officer-led situation, it's not something the members get involved with.

"There is an investigation going on and we must allow that to continue.

"There is no secrecy, anyone suspended is innocent until proven guilty.

"Once the investigation is over we will look at what's happened and inform the public as soon as we are able to."

The new-look roundabout went live in early June, leading to a video highlighting drivers' serious concerns around the layout going viral on social media after it was viewed 83,000 times.

The video showed drivers slamming on the brakes in frustration as they used a merger lane to exit for the A4440 Carrington Bridge.

A hurried safety probe was immediately launched, leading to two sections being coned off, including that merger lane, and then permanent changes - the cost of which the council is still negotiating with a third party contractor.

The investigation revolves around how much safety assessment work was done before the island was back fully in use.

* You can read our story on the council suspensions HERE.