A Kenilworth councillor said he was forced to launch an official complaint with Severn Trent after works caused significant traffic disruption across the town centre last week.

Speaking at the last Kenilworth Town Council meeting, Cllr Andrew Milton said he had complained about the lack of communication from the utility company after traffic lights along Warwick Road remained in place well after the works had finished.

He later said to Nub News: "I understand how frustrating the situation with these lights and others across the town has been. 

"It's inconvenient for anyone trying to travel across the town and has knock on impacts to our traders. 

"Added to this, the continued misinformation and delayed action by Severn Trent have clearly not helped. 

"Of course, pipes need to be mended, leaks need to be fixed, but this must be done with more consideration for those it impacts."

Severn Trent has since apologised and said the works were completed on time.

A Severn Trent spokesperson said: "The repair work on Warwick Road was completed as scheduled on 28 November, however there was a delay in our contractor removing the traffic lights at the junction. 

"We would like to apologise for any inconvenience that this caused." 

However, with residents becoming increasingly frustrated by the impact of road works across the town centre over the past few weeks, other councillors said there is a bigger issue that needs addressing.

Cllr Richard Dickson said at last week's KTC meeting: "I just wonder if there is any way if we can ask the county council whether they could better coordinate the road closures. 

"It frustrates people, and it displaces traffic onto the side roads. 

"But I envisage over the next two years even more of this - we haven't even got to the gyratory. 

"And I think we should be expressing to the county council that the way it appears to be managed at the moment is very uncoordinated."

But Cllr Rik Spencer, who also sits on Warwickshire County Council, explained: "As I understand matters, when it comes to utility companies digging up our roads, they go to the county council for permission and are given a window to start and finish by. 

"They do not say 'you must do this work on 28 February and somebody else does their work on 15 March' - it doesn't work like that."