Contractors repairing a sewer in Cambridge’s Jesus Lane have come under fire for dragging their feet just a week into the 12-week job.

Cllr Colin Rosenstiel claims it has taken the team five days just to remove tarmac and dig down only a few inches.

He has accused the contractors working for Anglian Water of showing a serious lack of urgency over the job which is causing traffic disruption in the city centre.

“We are facing disruption until the end of March and yet there seems to be no sense of urgency in getting this job underway,” said Cllr Rosenstiel.

“I have had cause to complain about these contractors before. They have been working for a week and they have very little progress to show for it. I will be taking this matter up with Cambridgeshire County Council and Anglian Water.”

The team has to dig a hole five metres wide by eight metres deep to carry out the sewer repair and the road has been closed between Victoria Avenue and Maids Causeway and Manor Street with diversions put in place.

Cambridge city centre has faced weeks of disruption over the last few months as work has been carried out to lay new gas mains in East Street and on Hills Road.

County Councillor Sarah Whitebread won the support of councillors for her suggestion that utility companies should face daily charges to close roads to carry out work across the county.

She claimed the idea would encourage fast, efficient work and give companies an incentive to finish jobs on time.