A LANDLORD has slammed rail chiefs after his pub was virtually blocked off to customers by workers repairing the damaged bridge at Moses Gate.

Will Moreland, who runs The Railway Inn in Egerton Street, said the pub appears to be completely shut off after fencing and cones were moved in front of the pub, leaving just 'a tiny walkway’.

The 41-year-old, who took over the venue less than 12 months ago, said he had been struggling since the bridge was damaged by a burst water main in August and the situation was now becoming ‘ridiculous’.

Network Rail, which is carrying out the repairs, initially said the work would be finished by the end of last month. But they now admit it will not be completed until February.

Mr Moreland, who runs the pub with wife Beverley, said he understood the work was necessary, but claimed Network Rail was showing no consideration for his livelihood.

He said: “Up until yesterday my attitude was to just let them get on with it, I will have to suffer it.

“But when I come out of the pub yesterday there were bollards in front of the doors and you could hardly tell that the pub was open.

“It’s ridiculous what they’ve done and how they are going about it. It’s like they don’t care about the businesses around here. We had one full day without water and didn’t have an apology or anything. It’s disgusting how they are treating businesses.”

Busy Moses Gate bridge will not fully reopen until next year

Mr Moreland added that his weekly takings were now down by about a third.

And he said that while other business in the area had been hit hard, his was the worst affected of all.

He said: “Customers used to park at the side of the pub, but now we have nothing. Buses aren’t coming this way, so customers can’t get home at night and taxis will only come to one side of the pub.”

Mr Moreland, who was born and brought up in Bolton, says he has 'turned the pub around' after taking over last October but he is worried that all his hard work has gone to waste.

He added: “When the road eventually reopens people will have gone elsewhere."

He is calling on Network Rail to help struggling businesses out while the disruption continues.

A spokesman for Network Rail said: "We are working hard to repair the bridge at Moses Gate so we can reopen the road as quickly as possible.

“During the closure of the road we have ensured that access to local businesses has been maintained via a diversionary route, developed in partnership with Bolton Council.

“Network Rail has no obligation to provide compensation for loss of earnings as a result of work that we are carrying out on the railway. However, if a business feels that it is entitled to a claim, it can contact us and we will consider each case individually.”